Heavyweight star Francis Ngannou reveals a rematch with Tyson Fury will happen and has even hinted a potential date the pair will go head-to-head.
Despite going on to lose via split decision, ‘The Predator’ shocked the boxing world in the third round of their first encounter after Fury tried to land a right hand on the MMA heavyweight, with Ngannou catching him on the temple with a huge left hook.
The 35-year-old dropped to the canvas and took a moment to recover, before rising to his feet with seconds left in the round.
Many questions were asked on how Ngannou would fare against the WBC heavyweight champion, considering the MMA fighter was stepping into the ring for the first time in his career. However, Ngannou showed that he is capable of competing with the best in the division and is already eyeing up a rematch with ‘The Gypsy King.’
But he must first get through Anthony Joshua. Joshua vs Ngannou is a done deal, with a date confirmed for the 10-round bout. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has announced that the pair will go toe-to-toe as a part of Riyadh Season.
Former UFC star Francis Ngannou reveals a rematch with Tyson Fury will happen this year
‘The Predator’ shocked the world against the heavyweight champion – but lost a razor-thin decision
Mail Sport revealed that the pair will face off on March 8, a date originally earmarked for Joshua’s proposed clash with Wilder.
Despite losing to Fury, Ngannou is desperate to get back in the ring with the Englishman, providing he gets through AJ in March.
In an interview with The MMA Hour, the Cameroon star revealed the contract clause between him and Fury meant a rematch would not happen right away, but within the next 12 months.
‘The rematch has never been right away.
‘I think there’s even a slight chance that the ‘right away’ is the Usyk rematch.
‘Because I think their term is even closer, our rematch term was in one year. Within one year. Which is still gonna be in October this year.’
Fury is scheduled to face Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight titles on February 17 in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, should Fury and Ngannou come away from their respective bouts unscathed, it’s likely we could see the rematch take place before the end of the year.
‘It’s going to happen. I mean there’s Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, even then we spoke about it,’ Ngannou continued.
Ngannou is scheduled to fight Anthony Joshua on March 8 in Saudi Arabia
Meanwhile – Fury is expected to face Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight titles in February
‘There’s Fury and Usyk going on, so the Joshua fight was like an opportunity.
‘I was waiting for Fury, but this was the opportunity that I was happy to take, I asked for.
‘And at the end of the day, this won’t take anything away from the Fury rematch.’