New Zealand’s Joseph Parker has turned his attention to former UFC champion-turned-boxer Francis Ngannou after his split-decision loss to Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia.
In a move that shocked the combat sports world, Cameroonian-French fighter Francis Ngannou left the UFC after his heavyweight title was stripped due to a contract dispute, to eventually take up professional boxing.
His first fight was with none other than WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, with the megafight taking place in Saudi Arabia - Ngannou lost the fight in controversial fashion by split decision after knocking Fury down, but showed the world he has what it takes to be in the ring with boxing’s best.
Parker fought Canadian Simon Kean on the undercard of that fight and impressed as he delivered a powerful knockout to reassert himself in the heavyweight division.
Now, the Māngere product has said Ngannou’s next move should be to “Fight me!”