Francis Ngannou would relish the chance to go head-to-head with Tyson Fury in his subsequent battle.
The 35-year-old UFC heavyweight champion faces former team-mate Ciryl Gane in a unification bout in Anaheim California on the weekend, however would take to the octagon with WBC champion Fury having challenged him to a contest carrying MMA’s lighter gloves.
Requested if all the things goes to plan towards Gane whether or not he would somewhat face him or defend his title towards Jon Jones in his subsequent battle, the Predator advised a press convention: “For those who give me the 2 choices, I’d select combating Tyson Fury.
“After combating Stipe [Miocic], the John Jones battle was on the desk, but it surely looks as if no person actually cares about it, so I don’t know.
“And in addition, we don’t even know what’s the place of John Jones proper now. I’m not planning my life primarily based on that. I’ll plan my life primarily based on the details.”
Ngannou has made no secret of his want to make the change to boxing at some point, and Fury’s fearsome fame within the ring and Connor McGregor’s defeat by Floyd Mayweather have proved no deterrent.
Requested if the prospect excited him, he replied: “Sure, very a lot as a result of as a lot of you would possibly know, my dream since I used to be a child was to turn into a boxer. Alongside the best way, I found MMA, which has been nice to me.
Conor McGregor (proper) was overwhelmed when he stepped into the boxing ring with Floyd Mayweather (Scott Heavey/PA)
(PA Archive)
“However nonetheless that hasn’t taken away that dream of boxing. I all the time knew that I needed to get part of boxing in my profession earlier than the tip of my profession.”
Former WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli has voiced the opinion that even the vastly highly effective Ngannou would wrestle to compete with boxing’s prime heavyweights, however that doesn’t faze the Cameroonian.
He mentioned: “I feel generally skilled fighters can underestimate MMA fighters, however I additionally assume everybody has an opinion.
“Anyone will say I’ll simply beat him, any person will say he’ll simply beat me, any person will see an equal battle – that’s the battle enterprise. It’s opinion.”
Within the meantime, Ngannou will consider the duty of beating Gane, with whom he sparred throughout his time on the MMA Manufacturing facility displaying few indicators of desirous to heal the rift with former coach Fernand Lopez.
Lopez has since mentioned he regards the fighter as a “son” and that he wish to restore their relationship, however Ngannou mentioned: “Screw him. I don’t play that recreation.
“I do know precisely what he’s taking part in. Cease being a hypocrite. For those who don’t like any person, converse clearly about your thoughts.”
* Watch Francis Ngannou look to defend his UFC heavyweight title towards Ciryl Gane at UFC® 270: NGANNOU vs. GANE on Saturday January 22. Early Prelims begin on UFC FIGHT PASS at 11pm and the primary card begins at 3.00am on BT Sport 2
Kaynak: briturkish.com
