Francis Ngannou is getting ready for just his second pro boxing fight, but he already has eyes on the third.
The combat sport superstar announced his arrival last year by knocking down undefeated heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury after a title-winning run in the UFC.
Ngannou would lose the ten-rounder on a split decision, but an impressive performance saw his stock go up considerably. So much so, in fact, that he has now landed a fight with one of the biggest stars of the sport in Anthony Joshua.
Taking place on March 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ngannou will once again look to flip the script and upset the odds against an in-form ‘AJ.’ Should he manage it, he has just one target.
Speaking on The MMA Hour, the 37-year-old said he would rematch Tyson Fury after a win.
“I win this fight, I’m fighting Fury. Period. Whether or not he has the belt. The thing with the title – and this is a system that I don’t want to fall into anymore – it’s like okay when you start a run you’re gonna make a concession with a title organisation. You have to fit into something.
I just wanna be free and fight, I don’t wanna owe anything to anybody or to [have to] respond to anybody. I don’t want that political stuff with the title and this. Obviously if the title is on the line and no strings attached I will grab it. Of course. It’s good for the decoration.”
There’s a chance that Fury may have all four belts come March. His undisputed fight against Oleksandr Usyk takes place on February 17 in the same location.