FRANCIS NGANNOU is being lined up for a shоck return to the ring next month by Saudi boxing chiefs, it’s been claimed.

Saudi was set to stage the first undisputed heavyweight title figҺt in 25 years between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on December 23.

3Former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou threw down with Tyson Fury last weekendCredit: Reuters3The boxing novice dropped Fury in the third round of their Saudi showdownCredit: Getty3Saudi boxing chiefs want The Predator to headline their vacant December 23 slotCredit: REUTERS

But both fighters have agreed to push back their long-awaited showdown to February following Fury’s embarrassing display against former UFC champion Ngannou last month.

Saudi boxing chiefs, however, are still keen on having another marquee figҺt take place in the now-vacant slot.

And it’s been claimed they’re contemplating having Ngannou top the bill of a stacked short-notice show.

That’s according to Boxing News, who claim former WBO champion Joseph Parker and surging heavyweight Zhilei Zhang are contenders to face the PFL pounder.They also claim the Saudis held “high-level talks about the clаsh” earlier this week.

Ngannou, 37, is the hottest commodity in combat sports following his virtuoso display in his split decision defeat to Fury, whom he dropped in the third round of their Riyadh rumble.

And he hopes to get another crаck at the Gypsy King after he handles his business with Uysk, so much so he’ll WAIT for the pair to duke it out before deciding his next move.

The Cameroonian clubber told TMZ: “The rematch is what I want next the most.

The stats from the figҺt show Fury landed more punches overall and in the majority of the rounds

“As for right now, I feel like there is a lot of options for me.

“But I want to choose wisely, and I would go for the rematch first.”

He added: “My best scenario in boxing is to wait for Fury.

“If Usyk can step out and let me figҺt Fury, I’ll figҺt Fury, then I’ll let them do whatever they do.

“I’ll go back, maybe do some MMA figҺt and come back with some people in boxing.

“I’m planning to figҺt potentially twice next year, [starting] maybe February or March.”