Tyson Fury thinks Francis Ngannou needs to thank him for his recent success.

WBC champion Fury scraped by former UFC heavyweight champ Ngannou (0-1) in a split decision win this past October, in a fight where he was knocked down. Despite losing, Ngannou became a ranked heavyweight after the fight and drew Anthony Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) next in a 10-round boxing match Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) takes credit for Ngannou’s rise and popularity in boxing.

“I think it’s a great fight, it’s a good fight,” Fury said on “The Stomping Ground” podcast. “When I was fighting Ngannou, it was ‘a mismatch’ and ‘a bullsh*t fight,’ but it is what it is, and styles make fights. … I’m not sure what people expected of the man before that.

“I know it was supposed to be a 1,000-1 shot and he was useless, and he couldn’t fight and all that. But he proved everyone wrong, so fantastic for him. I put him on the map, made him a multi-millionaire, and now I’m making him even more money. So he needs to thank me. He needs to get on his knees and kiss my feet, doesn’t he, for what I’ve done for him?”

Fury, who meets Oleksandr Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) May 18 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, isn’t concerned with who wins between Ngannou and Joshua.

“I don’t know and I don’t care, to be honest,” Fury said. “Whatever happens, happens. The best man will win on the night. They’re heavyweight giants, so anyone can win. Some good, brilliant fights on Friday – I’m looking forward to the whole bill.”