Francis Ngannou Prepares to Face Anthony Joshua In Custom AHLUWALIA Look
The UK designer uses her signature Joy graphic on the two-piece, reflecting her spirited attitude while recalling the fighter’s inspirational journey to stardom.
Reigning UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is preparing to join British boxer Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia for the ultimate match.
The Gymshark athlete has an impressive 17-win record and is synonymous with his ruthless punching power. Ngannou always steps out in his finest garbs before match day, celebrating his Cameroonian-French identity through custom looks by international designers.
For his mash-up with Anthony Joshua, Ngannou has united with UK designer Priya Ahluwalia for a bespoke outfit that enlivened the pre-fight press conference. AHLUWALIA‘s signature Joy graphic drowns the look from head to toe, reflecting her spirited attitude while recalling the fighter’s inspirational journey to stardom. He famously trekked 5000km from Cameroon to Paris to pursue his dream of becoming a boxer.
“I knew that Francis wanted to make an impact with this outfit, and he is proud of his Cameroonian heritage, so I wanted to create something that had the flair and beauty of the diaspora, was in line with AHLUWALIA design aesthetics, and had an element of drama.
We reimagined our Joy print and selected a luxurious satin base. I decided that a printed two-piece would be great for this moment. We designed quite a few options and then sent a selection to Francis. Once he selected his favorite, we got the bespoke fabric printed, the pattern made, and, ultimately, the garment sewn. It was a really enjoyable process,” the designer said to Hypebeast.
“It’s always such a special moment to be able to collaborate with other people from the African continent. I myself am Nigerian and Indian, and Francis is Cameroonian and French. I think projects like this are such an incredible symbol of African creativity and talent being spotlighted on a global stage. It’s something I hope we can see more of in the future. I am in awe of Francis’ career and feel very fortunate to be a small part of such an incredible milestone in his career.”
Ngannou and Joshua will head to the ring on March 8, with the highly-anticipated showdown expected to last 10 rounds before crowning a victor.
