Francis Ngannou is the unlikely breakout star of the heavyweight division who is now being offered dream fights such as the winner of Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk, despite only having stepped into the ring once in his professional boxing career.
Cameroonian-Frenchman Ngannou very much got to the pinnacle of his own sport, MMA, by becoming the UFC heavyweight champion.
He also earned himself the name the Baddest Man on the Planet because of his ungodly punching power, and then made a late switch to boxing for his first-ever fight in October last year.
That power came to the fore when sitting Tyson Fury on the canvas in the third round of their fight in Riyadh. Despite going on to lose a split decision on points, Ngannou’s stock went to all-new levels.
Although Joshua represents another vast challenge for Ngannou, he is already being asked about who he might fight after that.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, he was asked if he wanted the winner of the undisputed contest on February 17.
“I’m not looking for the winner, I’m looking for Tyson. Just give me that fight. I don’t give a sh*t about the winner of Tyson and Usyk. Win or lose, I want Tyson.”
With Anthony Joshua, who is set to make a jaw-dropping amount of money for fighting Ngannou, also waiting in the wings and keen to have his shot at Fury, it will be fascinating to see what unfolds once an undisputed champion has been crowned.