Francis Ngannou has made it clear who he wants to face next after an impressive display against Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou was making his boxing debut having been a heavyweight champion in the UFC, with not many fans giving the MMA star much hope going into the contest. But the 37 year-old shocked the world with his performance and even knocked the current WBC champion down in the third round.
Fury went on to win the fight by split decision, something which some pundits disagreed with, Eddie Hearn going as far to say the result was a ‘robbery’.
Hearn’s fighter, Anthony Joshua, was previously dismissive of a potential matchup against Ngannou, but after his showing in Riyadh the Matchroom promoter has made it clear they would have ‘no problem’ making that clash for as early as December.
“We’re looking at that date [December 23] for Joshua anyway. Maybe I’ll reach out to them and say listen, if you’re looking for an opponent for Francis Ngannou, AJ’s ready, December 23, no problem at all. I’d like more time promotionally to make that fight what it is, one of the biggest fights out there, but no problem.”
However, Ngannou is now a heavyweight with options and, in an interview with TMZSports, ruled out the Joshua fight happening next, saying he is fully focused on a rematch against ‘The Gypsy King’.
“First of all it’s too soon. Secondly, my most focus as far as boxing is concerned is my rematch with Tyson Fury. That’s the most important thing for me right now, everything else in boxing comes after.”
Ngannou went on to say he is willing to wait for Fury to fight Oleksandr Usyk before getting another shot at him.
“I would be willing to wait, they are going to fight sometime in February instead of December 23, which is my fault, I shouldn’t have cut him, then they would fight in December and then maybe we would have run it back earlier next year.”
The 37-year-old might have to wait longer than he thinks as it’s reported that the undisputed fight has a two way rematch clause contracted.