Francis Ngannou challenges rivals Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to prove they have the ‘balls’ to fight him in MMA

FRANCIS NGANNOU has challenged Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to have the "balls" to fight him in MMA.

The ex-UFC champion put his cage career on hold last year to make a stunning switch to boxing.

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And in his first bout, he astonishingly floored Fury only to fall victim to a controversial points loss in Saudi Arabia.

But the disputed decision did not stop AJ coming to the table to agree another crossover clash for Ngannou, set for March 8 in Riyadh.

It will be the second time the MMA superstar has stepped out of his favoured discipline - something he doubts Joshua or Fury would ever have the cojones to do.

He told SunSport in Saudi: "Well, first of all you need to find a person with the balls to leave their backyard and come to somebody else's backyard. 

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"It is not that easy. It is not a comfort zone when you step into someone else's backyard.

"You have to accommodate yourself into everything and it is very tough. And I am saying that from experience! It is very challenging."

Ngannou, 37, had boxing royalty in his corner for his fight with Fury, 35, having been coached by Iron Mike Tyson.

But the Cameroonian powerhouse admitted contact with his childhood hero has been limited heading into his fight with Joshua.

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He said: "Honestly, no. We haven't really spoken, we haven't really spoken about that." 

Ngannou idolised Tyson growing up and wanted to be boxing champ just like his favourite fighter when he started training at 22.

So even for Ngannou - who battled poverty and took over a year to emigrate Africa - having Tyson on the team was surreal.

He said: "It's amazing.

"You have to look at him and travel back and think back at where you where at some point in your life and how you were watching him. 

"I think those are the moments that tells you that you're making steps, you're moving forwards. You're not stuck in the same place." 

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