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UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is gearing up to defend his title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 this coming Saturday, but he’s continued to discuss his willingness to take part in a potential cross-sport boxing match against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
For the last few weeks, both Ngannou and Fury have expressed their desire to collide in the ring.
There appears to be enough interest in such a fight that betting lines have appeared.
Ngannou, who has one fight left on his UFC contract, believes the fight will happen in the future.
“Yeah, I do believe that that fight will happen,” Ngannou told DAZN Boxing. “I think Tyson Fury wants that fight to happen too, so eventually it will happen at some point. I can’t say specifically when but for sure it’s gonna happen since we both are willing to make that fight happen.”
Ngannou is willing to work out a new contract with the UFC – but only if the MMA organization inserts a contractual clause that allows him to have boxing matches.
He wants to secure the same type of opportunity as former UFC champion Conor McGregor, who in 2017 was allowed to face Floyd Mayweather in a major pay-per-view.
Ngannou admits that he would rather have the UFC involved in a Fury fight.
Both UFC, and Fury’s co-promoter Top Rank, have exclusive content deals with ESPN.
“It’s not like freely go have a boxing match but more so I would like something like Conor and Mayweather did,” Ngannou said. “I think it would be more viral with the supporting that, with the UFC behind that. Anything that you do with the UFC behind, I think it’s gonna be huge…
“From where we are, nothing is safe to say – [but] yes [no boxing would be a deal-breaker]. I’m 35 years old, bro. It’s not like I have a lifetime ahead of me. I’m very aware of my age and the stage of my career and if I really want to do this, I think it’s time to do it. But I don’t see why that shouldn’t be possible for them as well.”