09 December 2023 , 11:00
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Francis Ngannou has already called out Deontay Wilder for a mixed-rules fight and he’s now proposed the idea to Anthony Joshua.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou controversially lost his boxing debut against Tyson Fury in October but has since been linked to fights against Joshua and Wilder, as well as a rematch against Fury. Joshua is preparing to fight Otto Wallin on December 23 and Wilder is in action on the same night against Joseph Parker.
Ngannou said of Joshua on the Club Shay Shay podcast: “Anything that he wants. Ring or octagon. The good thing is I’m the one that can go everywhere comfortably. My comfort zone will be the octagon, but I’m going to the ring and putting them in a bad spot in the ring."
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“I have my territory [in MMA] where they cannot mess with me. If they come, they will need something like some favour, like, ‘I’ll give you this, we’ll take kicks out.’ I have to give him something, but when we step in the ring, they don’t give me anything and I still get them in trouble.”
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Fury was expected to fight Oleksandr Usyk on December 23 but the damage he unexpectedly sustained against Ngannou pushed their undisputed fight back to February 17. Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn laughed off a potential fight for ‘AJ’ against Ngannou but backtracked on his comments following Fury’s close fight with the former UFC champion.
“Even Tyson Fury said the same thing and Tyson Fury is better than Anthony Joshua,” Ngannou added. “What do I care about what people say? I’ve been in this game for so long. I’ve seen so much. I’ve heard so much what people intend to do. There’s a difference between wanting to do and be able to do.”
Ngannou will make his return to the cage next year for the PFL having signed with the promotion after splitting with the UFC in January. It remains unclear whether Ngannou’s next appearance will take place in a ring or a cage, as all of the boxing opponents he's called to fight currently have bouts booked.