11 January 2024 , 11:01
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Francis Ngannou has insisted a potential rematch with Tyson Fury must happen by October of this year.
Former UFC champion Ngannou makes his second boxing appearance on March 8 as he fights Anthony Joshua after his ring debut against Fury last year. Ngannou was told that he didn't stand a chance against Fury but he came within touching distance of beating the Brit after dropping him and only losing by a single point in a controversial decision.
Fury would have been legally contracted to a rematch if he lost but Ngannou is still hoping to run it back with his rival despite not getting the win. Fury is currently tied up in a two-fight deal with fellow heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed belts but Ngannou has said he wants to rematch the Brit by October.
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"I win this fight and I’m fighting Fury period, whether or not he has the belt. Our rematch term was within next year, so it’s going to be October this year. I just want to be free and fight, the thing is with the title is this is a system I don’t want to fall into anymore. You have to make a concession with an organisation, I don’t want that political stuff," Ngannou said on The MMA Hour.
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Ngannou parted ways with the UFC two years ago as his exit from the promotion was delayed because of a champion's clause in his contract. It's unsurprising that Ngannou isn't fond on tying himself up in the political side of boxing as he added: "I don’t want to owe anything to anybody but obviously is the title is on the line with no strings attached then I would grab it. It’s good for decoration."
Ngannou found himself ranked in the top 10 by the WBC after his fight against Fury despite the bout serving as his boxing debut. The former UFC champion admitted he was impressed by Joshua's win against Otto Wallin last month but questioned whether he can still take a punch at this stage in his career.
"I think he’s still the same fighter but that doesn’t mean he can’t lose. He lost to Andy Ruiz and to Usyk. He can still lose by the way. If Joshua takes the punch that Fury took, I don’t guarantee that he is getting up from it. I have heard that he doesn’t have a chin, but we are going to find it," Ngannou added.