Top Rank president Todd duBoef clearly doesn't think Tyson Fury will fight Anthony Joshua any time soon as he feels Francis Ngannou "warrants a rematch" against the Gypsy King after his performance in Saudi Arabia at the end of last year.
Fury takes on Oleksandr Usyk in an attempt to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion this century.
They've signed a two-fight deal with the winner expected to vacate the IBF heavyweight belt before the rematch.
That ties both fighters up for most of 2024 with a third fight against a challenger only potentially to happen in December.
Tyson Fury may have to face Francis Ngannou again
PA
Joshua has made it clear that he wants that fight with Fury with both British heavyweights talking up the prospect for several years now.
But deBoef believes Ngannou should be ahead of Joshua in the queue to fight Fury next given his exploits in the Gypsy King's last bout.
The MMA veteran surprised many with his display against Fury and joined a short list of boxers to put the 35-year-old down on the canvas.
And duBoef feels Ngannou is deserving of another shot at fighting Fury after the two bouts with Usyk.
“That’s an earned ability to get the rematch. He earned that,” Du Boef told Sky Sports.
“His performance dictated that, ‘Woah, he has a chance. We never thought he had a chance’ and in that situation, I think absolutely.
“I think Tyson is regretful. He blamed himself. He thought he had an off night.“
He said: ‘I took it lightly. It was all on me.’ Didn’t point fingers, which was good.
Tyson Fury was knocked down by Francis Ngannou
GETTY
“Ngannou outperformed anybody’s expectation and as a result of that you have all the components to say, 'hey, I want to see this again' and that creates and warrants a rematch.”
DuBoef doesn't see why Fury and Usyk signed a two-fight deal, although he's looking forward to seeing all the heavyweight belts put on the line for the first time since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield 25 years ago.
He added: "I'm not a big rematch fan. I just think that it kind of takes the prize out of the prizefight.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Anthony Joshua has said that he wants to fight Tyson Fury
PA
"It [the use of rematch clauses] is a new phenomenon that's come in the last probably decade and a half.
"So I'm not a big rematch fan but you have to understand that there are rematch clauses in fights and it's more of the norm today.
"I think it's a special moment in February when we get all the heavyweight titles together. I think that we're talking about two world-class heavyweights that will hopefully put on an incredible performance and if it's that good of a fight then it warrants a rematch.
"It shouldn't be something that should be dictated prior to seeing what the first fight is. Let's hope that they put on such a great fight that it warrants a rematch."
