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It appears that Francis Ngannou could be back in the boxing ring sooner rather than later.
Last week, the former UFC heavyweight champion stunned the boxing world when he went the full ten rounds vs lineal heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury.
Fury, who was supposed to fight on December 23rd in Saudi Arabia vs Oleksandr Usyk, was forced to take some time to rest due to the injuries he suffered in the Ngannou fight.
Apparently, the Saudis still want to headline a big card on December 23rd during their “Riyadh Season’ and have offered Ngannou big money to box top heavyweights Zhilei Zhang or Joseph Parker.
Via Boxing News
SAUDI ARABIA are pressing ahead with a show on December 23 despite the delay on Tyson Fury’s undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk.
But Boxing News understands that Saudi are still plotting a huge, money-spinning card on December 23 to mark the middle of Riyadh Season, even though neither Fury or Usyk will feature.
It is highly likely that Ngannou’s second fight as a professional will top the bill with the likes of both Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker touted as opponents for the 37-year-old former UFC champion, who dropped Fury with a left hook in the third of their ten-rounder. High-level talks about the clash have taken place this week with an announcement expected at some point next week.
Neither fight would be easy for Ngannou. Zhang recently put a beat down on former heavyweight contented Joe Joyce and Parker recently knocked out Simon Kean with a vicious uppercut.
As for Ngannou, he’s hoping Usyk steps aside in March so that he can get a rematch vs Fury.
Via TMZ
“The rematch is what I want next the most,”
“As for right now I feel like there is a lot of options for me, but I want to choose wisely, and I would go for the rematch first.
“My best scenario in boxing is to wait for Fury. If Usyk can step out and let me fight Fury, I’ll fight Fury, then I’ll let them do whatever they do.”