Anthony Joshua has insisted his full focus is on Francis Ngannou ahead of a massive couple of months for heavyweight boxing.
On February 17 in Saudi Arabia, AJ may well be ringside to watch Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO heavyweight world titles.
However, if he is, it will only be because he’s already out in Riyadh training for his own fight in the city against Ngannou on March 8.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh (Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority) is the driving force behind this shift in the heavyweight division towards Riyadh.
He staged Fury vs Ngannou in October and Joshua vs Otto Wallin in December, and has made his long-term plans clear.
Alalshikh wants the British super fight between Fury and AJ to finally come to fruition, if they both win their upcoming bouts.
Despite this dangling carrot in front of him, Joshua is adamant that he won’t look past Ngannou.
“Let me say this again, I’m not focusing on that,” Joshua told The MMA Hour.
“I’m going to take my mind, I have to draw it back that Ngannou is my undisputed title fight. That’s the mentality I have to have.
“Ngannou is my undisputed fight. Because you’re only as good as your last fight, and I respect him a lot.
He ain’t easy money. He’s a hard night’s work.
“And you know what’s crazy? So am I. I’m a hard night’s work for anyone. So let’s go, it’s going to be fireworks.”
