Anthony Joshua is treating his next fight as a world title opportunity.

Though no belts will officially be on the line when Joshua steps into the ring with Francis Ngannou this March, Joshua views the former UFC heavyweight champion as a chance to prove he’s still the best boxer in his division. Joshua has held multiple world titles in boxing, but he has been without gold around his waist since a pair of losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

Should Joshua defeat Ngannou, it could set him up to challenge for boxing titles again, but for now, he’s preparing for Ngannou like he’s the man to knock off the top of the mountain.

“Let me say this again, I’m not focusing on that,” Joshua said on The MMA Hour when asked if he expects a title shot with a win over the PFL’s Ngannou. “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.”

Watch Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou face off for first time

There is a vast gap between Joshua and Ngannou when it comes to boxing experience. Though Ngannou was a dominant force inside the octagon, in the ring it’s Joshua that has been one of the best in his sport for years. The Englishman is 27-3 in his career, with his only losses to Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr., the latter of which Joshua avenged in an immediate rematch.

Ahead of a fight with Otto Wallin this past December that Joshua dominated, it was expected the ex-champ would face Deontay Wilder sometime in 2024. The only problem was that Wilder lost to Joseph Parker in the co-main event of the Joshua-Wallin card, which put that matchup on the shelf for the mean time.