Ngannou optimistic ahead of fight against Joshua, clashes with Fury at news conference

Ngannou optimistic ahead of fight against Joshua, clashes with Fury at news conference

Ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou (0-1) clashed with WBC World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and said that he “just getting started” in boxing.

Clash between them happened during news conference on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia.

Ngannou will fight former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (27-3) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday (8 March).

Ngannou made professional boxing debut on October last year loosing close on points against Fury. Ngannou dropped Fury in third round of that contest.

 “I had one win over [Fury] and I want one more,” Ngannou said with a grin.

Fury shouted back that he would face Ngannou in the “octagon” – the UFC’s trademark cage – to which the French Cameroonian replied: “Your only chance is in a boxing ring, with boxing rules.”

Ngannou was UFC heavyweight champion when he left promotion last year.

Joshua took a back seat as Fury and Ngannou where exchanging words.

“I’m just getting started. I don’t think that [beating Joshua] will make any statement of my career because the road is still long,” Ngannou said.

The remarkable possibility remains that Ngannou could fight for a world title in his third boxing bout, should he beat Joshua in what is only his second fight.

“I really think I haven’t shocked the world yet,” he said, adding he is “still learning” the art of boxing.

Asked for his response on Ngannou saying he will look for a knockout, Joshua succinctly replied: “Let’s go. The best man will always win. It’s not rocket science.”

There was a respectful and light-hearted exchange between the headliners when Ngannou handed his opponent a set of wireless headphones. Joshua often attends news conferences with music playing in just one ear.