Prior to their heavyweight fight in Saudi Arabia on Friday, which will air live on Sky Sports Box Office, Francis Ngannou stated that Anthony Joshua has been acting tense.

Joshua is the overwhelming favourite to win in Riyadh, but Ngannou, a 37-year-old former UFC fighter who is gearing up for just his second professional boxing combat, stopped Tyson Fury after 10 rounds in a bout that the WBC champion controversially lost on points.

Joshua, 34, will have a lot to consider as he considers a possible world title matchup with Filip Hrgovic or a matchup with the victor of Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk in May.

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“We were doing the promo and he was very chilled, very relaxed,” Ngannou told reporters at a workout on Tuesday.

“I asked him if he was OK, because he looked a little nervous or something. I asked him if he was OK, because I was OK. I had no problems. I was just talking around, laughing.

“I think we are both professional enough to know what we have to do to get to where we want to go.”

Instead of using the pads for his personal training, Joshua chose to shadow box with many young boxers from the area who were invited to the event.

“It’s a great chance for me to let other people use the platform that I’ve created to express themselves and their talent,” Joshua said.

“I know how much the people of Saudi are embracing boxing and health in general. I gave them a chance to get on TV and hopefully their parents will see and it will boost their morale.

“I’m here to fight, I wasn’t acknowledging [the fans] with all due respect, I’m here to fight. This is my life. Talk is cheap.”