Francis Ngannou is a free man.
The now former UFC heavyweight champion formally relinquished his title belt this month and has left the UFC following the expiration of his contract, and can watch as nothing greater than an observer when Jon Jones and Ciyrl Gane conflict for the vacant championship in Las Vegas in early March.
‘The Predator’ has but to formally announce his subsequent transfer amid presumed curiosity from a number of completely different combined martial arts organisations throughout the globe, whereas boxing can be a long-held want of the Cameroonian powerhouse. Ngannou was final yr closely linked to an exhibition bout with Tyson Fury, and even appeared with Fury within the ring following his April drubbing of Dillian Whyte in London.
Nevertheless, it was believed on the time (by some, anyway) that Fury was to retire from skilled boxing — an element which apparently cleared a pathway for exhibition bouts such because the one proposed in opposition to Ngannou. However Fury’s return to the heavyweight ranks has since sophisticated issues, with Fury and Oleksandr Usyk anticipated to struggle in late March or early April in line with Fury’s UK promoter Frank Warren.
However that definitely hasn’t stopped Fury conserving his choices open, and he urged not too long ago a struggle with Ngannou in a cage and whereas sporting 4oz gloves however to happen below conventional boxing guidelines solely. What’s extra, Fury’s namesake Mike Tyson was named as a possible visitor referee.
Now, in the case of excessive stage prizefighting, saying and doing are sometimes two very various things and when pressed on the problem by Canal+ Afrique Ngannou stated {that a} struggle with Fury is feasible however that lots needs to be organized earlier than the 2 might hypothetically meet.
“The subsequent step could possibly be that however, as soon as once more, every thing needs to be finalised,” the previous UFC champion stated. “Let me remind you that Tyson Fury and I’ve been warming up on social media for greater than two years.
“Clearly all of us want this struggle. It’s been lengthy sufficient. Hopefully we’ve the opportunity of dotting the i’s.”
So, you’re saying there’s an opportunity?
