Francis Ngannou attends the UFC Fight Night: Ultimate media day at Wanda Realm Hotel on November 22, 2018 (Photo by Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images)
Francis Ngannou could be out of a contract soon
Boxing seems to be a huge deal for Francis Ngannou and the UFC Heavyweight Champion has spoken about his future with TMZ.
Ngannou and the UFC are in an impasse regarding the champion’s next fight. While Ngannou’s team has said that his next bout is the final one on his contract, Dana White recently suggested that he would have one more fight after this.
Ngannou faces Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 where he puts up his title on the line. Gane is the current interim UFC Heavyweight Champion, but losing Ngannou would be a huge blow to the promotion.
The Predator is one of the biggest names in the business and in the form of his life. He was speaking to TMZ recently and brought up how boxing was important for his future (h/t MMA Mania):
“It’s always been down the line.
“This is something that, I’m not taking my eyes off it. This is going to happen either way, and even if I stay — even if or when the UFC and I, we finally, we finalise a deal, the boxing part has to be into it, because I can’t see myself to retire without boxing.”
Francis Ngannou wants to face some big names
The Predator might be one of the top MMA stars in the world but he is keen to make a name in the boxing ring as well.
A lot of former UFC stars have fought in the ring recently and Ngannou named a few top stars he wanted to take on:
“Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder — I would like to test myself to their level. “It’s not the same sport, but although I’m the champion, so I’m in the top in this division, and at the end of the day, it’s just about throwing hands, throwing punches, having a good delivery system to throw those bombs. And I’m sure that if I deliver my own punches pretty good, I can make damage.”
Ngannou certainly makes a point as boxing has seen a lot of money being handed to the fighters. Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley made quite a lot from their losses to Jake Paul, and it will be interesting to see what happens with Ngannou.
The UFC would not want to include boxing in their deal for Ngannou. Hopefully, they can resolve the issue and the Predator can remain in the promotion after his UFC 270 fight as well.
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