JAKARTA Mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou is ready to board the ring against heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua after leaving the UFC last weekend.
The Cameroon-France mixed-blooded UFC heavyweight champion left the mixed martial arts promotion. He decided he didn't want to sign a contract for three new fights.
The decision left his title stripped of the UFC and free from the company's contract ties. That allows him to realize his childhood dream, which is to become a professional boxer.
"Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua will be my first ideal opponent," he said as quoted by The Sun, Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
In the latest negotiations with the UFC, Ngannou is scheduled to do three fights before pursuing a blockbuster in boxing which he has dreamed of since starting his career in combat.
However, the compromise ended in the dead end because certain requirements in the requested contract were not heeded. One of them Ngannou could not ask sponsors from outside or pursue opportunities to get into the boxing ring.
No longer under contract, Ngannou's chance to enter the ring is even more open. Moreover, he had previously planned to fight boxing king Fury in April last year.
"I want to fight the top people in boxing. I don't know, I knew Fury had retired, but now he's back," he said.
Planned for the duel of Fury and Ngannou last year was ultimately canceled. At that time, Ngannou was still injured and was in negotiations to extend the deal with the UFC.
In addition to injury problems, the UFC also prohibits their fighters from dueling outside of promotions, except with special permission.
Regarding this permit, the UFC had previously given Conor McGregor in 2017. The Irish fighter then got into the ring and recognized the superiority of United States boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
However, Ngannou has been told he will not be allowed to imitate McGregor's move. This is what led him to reject the new contract.
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