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Anthony Joshua Raises Possibility Of Fighting In The UFC One Day

Anthony Joshua Raises Possibility Of Fighting In The UFC One Day

He’s got to get by Joseph Parker on 31 March first

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

Anthony Joshua has opened the door to switching discipline and fighting in the MMA octagon at some point in the future.

The current WBA and IBF heavyweight champion is looking to unify the heavyweight division, a job that continues with a fight against Joseph Parker in Wales on 31 March, but also said that he might be keen to take on some of the UFC's biggest fighters.

The 28 year old Watford born boxer has even said who he'd like to fight if he does it - Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou are his choices.

Speaking with Sky Sports' Toe 2 Toe podcast, the champ said: "A good scrap would be with the guy from Congo [Francis Ngannou] who just lost recently. Big unit - that would be a good scrap.

"Then you've got Jon Jones, that'd be a good scrap.

"Yeah of course, obviously I'd have to have a couple of warm up fights because you have to learn the submissions and stuff.

PA

He continued: "But, yeah, a fight is a fight at the end of the day. So yeah man, I'd do it."

Before all of this he needs to get by the challenge of Joseph Parker in Cardiff at the end of the month. Parker holds the WBO belt and Wilder holds the WBC strap.

If he comes through that victorious, he will likely face a unification bout against Deontay Wilder with the winner becoming the first fighter to unify the heavyweight division since Lennox Lewis in 2000.

First though, the New Zealander Parker stands in the way.

Asked about facing the undefeated Kiwi, Joshua said: "Joseph Parker is dedicated and I'm going to see him at 50 per cent better than I have before.

"What I've learnt is that boxing is simplified when you incorporate your feet. Even though it's a game of punching people, your feet get you in and out of range.

"If I can transform what I've learnt in the gym for the last ten or 12 weeks to the ring, hopefully I can get him out of there between six and eight."

PA

Interestingly enough, Floyd Mayweather announced recently that he is looking to train for the octagon as well, which means that May/Mac 2 could be on the cards under MMA rules.

Conor McGregor lost to Mayweather in the boxing ring last year, but has often said that he would fancy fighting him again at his own discipline.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: SPORT, Anthony Joshua, Boxing, UFC, Deontay Wilder, MMA