Jared Cannonier is coming off wins over Sean Strickland and Marvin Vettori and is now willing to fight Khamzat Chimaev next if a victory guarantees him a middleweight title shot.
“At this point in time, he’s ranked No. 9,” Cannonier said of Chimaev during an interview with ‘Inside Fighting’. “I’m down to make it happen, as long as it’s clear that this is a contenders match. … When I get back, if they’re not going to give me the title (shot, then I want) the next best thing, the thing that gets me to the title. And if you say that’s Khamzat, let’s do it.”
Other than making it a title eliminator, Cannonier’s only other request is that the fight is a five-rounder.
“They really want to push him to the title. He really wants to get to the title, and I’m right here,” Cannonier said. “I shouldn’t have to say, ‘Hey, I want a title shot.’ It’s clear and evident that the ass I’ve been kicking says that I want the title shot. So if it’s not going to be the title next, I will definitely fight the next guy in line. And if it’s Khamzat, let’s make that happen.
“Let’s do a fiver – let’s see what he’s got in five rounds.”
