Who Francis Ngannou wants to fight next after Anthony Joshua
Francis Ngannou has announced whom he would like to fight next after Anthony Joshua, and it was not Tyson Fury.
Former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, recently acted contrary to his statement by signing a fight contract with Anthony Joshua this year.
Following a controversial loss to present WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury last year, Ngannou had said he would have no more pro boxing engagements till after a rematch with Fury.
However, Ngannou’s performance during that match — which was his pro boxing debut — landed him much fame and contract opportunities with several big names in the heavyweight division.
Among these top names were Derek Chisora, Zheilei Zhang, Deontay Wilder, and Anthony Joshua.
Earlier this year, the MMA professional went by Deontay Wilder and signed a fight contract with Anthony Joshua instead, following the former’s underwhelming performance against Joseph Parker last year’s December.
But Ngannou recently said he was going to fight Deontay Wilder next after Anthony Joshua while speaking to Sky Sports MMA Club. His statement was as follows:
‘I’m here for the boxing career and there I have a lot of challenges, a lot of names.
‘For example, the top three guys that I’ve always had are Fury, Joshua and Wilder.
‘Wilder better get it together because I’m not done, I want that name on my record.
Just after Deontay Wilder lost to Parker last year, Ngannou posted a message on social media that implied he was going to beat up Wilder. Some who saw the post might have assumed that the two would only get to fight in 2025 after the rematch with Fury.
It is common knowledge that Ngannou made more money fighting Fury than in all his career at the UFC. Maybe he decided to use his fame to amass more money as he waits for Fury’s undisputed world heavyweight bout with Oleksander Usyk to pass.
Whoever wins between Joshua and Ngannou will get to face the winner of the Fury-Usyk bout.
Deontay Wilder is yet to reply to the new development, but is less likely to reject the opportunity.