Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua called out by Francis Ngannou as boxing plans laid out
Francis Ngannou wants to face British behemoths Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the boxing ring after parting ways with the UFC.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is keen to make a splash in the boxing world after refusing to re-sign with the MMA giants.
The 36-year-old isn’t wasting any time in calling out the big guns in boxing, having already called for Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua for his professional debut boxing fight.
Ngannou’s UFC contract expired in mid-December and after the two parties were unable to reach an agreement, the UFC opted to waive its one-year matching rights clause, making the Cameroonian a free agent.
"The Predator" was offered a reported £6.5million ($8m) to defend his belt against Jon Jones but refused after being denied health insurance and the ability to represent sponsors on fight week.
Jones will now face Ciryl Gane for the vacant title while Ngannou pursues new challenges in a different sport. Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Ngannou revealed he is planning to stage his first boxing bout no later than July and wants to jump straight into the deep end against the biggest names on offer.
“Hopefully somewhere, the latest is July [for when I’d return], I’d say so,” he said. “Hopefully, at least twice this year. My gut says boxing, a pro boxing [bout]. I don’t know where, I’m going to find out. I’m working on it right now.”
He added: "Yes, I still want to achieve something in boxing and I want to stay in MMA as well. I discovered MMA first in my life and I feel like I have some mileage to give in my sport. In a perfect world, I go out there get some boxing match then get some MMA, depending on the challenges that are out there.
"If they are out there, I want to fight the top guys in boxing. I don't know, I think Fury has retired and come back. I don't know where Fury is right now, but now it is time. Before, we could not do anything concrete beyond the social media stuff. Whatever it is, if it is with Tyson Fury, I will take it. I have no problem doing boxing with 4oz gloves, we will figure it out. Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua would be my first ideal opponent."
