Ahead of the bout with Ngannou, Joshua insists 'I don't duck a challenge'

Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has claimed 'I don't duck a challenge' ahead of his tricky test against Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia - insisting he signed up to face both Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

AJ will hope to continue his slow rise back up the ranks against the ex-UFC star on March 8 following his second successive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022, which saw him lose his four world title belts to the Ukranian.

Since then, Joshua has racked up three straight victories against Jermain Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin - the latter two coming by way of stoppage.

The 34-year-old was holding out for a blockbuster clash against Wilder this year following his statement victory over Wallin in December, but those plans are now on hold after the 'Bronze Bomber' was stunned by Joseph Parker in his fight on the same card.

Joshua opted to face Ngannou instead after the Cameroonian's stock shot up following his spirited defeat against Fury that saw him send the WBC world champion to the canvas in the third round.

But AJ insists he had signed an agreement to face Wilder - as well as Fury in the past - to highlight that he does not avoid big fights as he prepares for another tough challenge in Ngannou.

'You know what it proved to me, I've signed to fight Fury, I've signed to fight Wilder, I've signed to fight a lot of people,' he told Sky Sports.

'I just do good business. I'm a good prizefighter, I don't duck a challenge. I'm always up for it. I just feel to myself I'll always be here and ready to fight any time.'

Joshua and Fury looked to have struck a deal to fight in 2021 in Saudi Arabia before the Gypsy King was ordered to face Wilder himself for a third time following an arbitration.

Then the following year, Fury made an offer to Joshua to fight for his WBC title after his second loss to Usyk, before setting him a string of deadlines to agree on the fight, and eventually calling it off after the Watford-born star failed to return his contract in time.

Speaking of talks with Wilder, Joshua added that the fight was not dead in the water.

He said: 'We met up, we spoke to lawyers, we signed contracts, all that good stuff.

'It's a fight that fans want to see. I'm not saying it's completely written off.

'It's a fight where everything was signed and sealed. It just needed both of us to deliver. And he didn't meet his end of the bargain.'

For now, Joshua will have to get the job done against Ngannou next week and hope an opportunity to fight for a world title presents itself after Fury faces Usyk on May 18 for the chance to be named undisputed heavyweight world champion.