Tyson Fury Suggests Fight with Francis Ngannou Using Boxing Rules, UFC Gloves

Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images

Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury
proposed a unique cross-sport matchup with UFC heavyweight champion
Francis Ngannou.

Fury suggested in a Twitter post Thursday the bout should feature boxing
rules while using UFC gloves:

Ngannou has been vocal about his desire
to broaden his horizons beyond MMA in recent months, and he confirmed
to TMZ Sports last week any future contract extension with the UFC would
have to include the ability to take time away for boxing
opportunities.

“It’s always been down the line.
This is something I’m not taking my eyes off of. It’s gonna happen,
either way,” he said. “Even if, when the UFC and I finalize a
deal, the boxing part has to be into it because I can’t see myself
retire without boxing.”

The 35-year-old Cameroonian named Fury or
Deontay Wilder as potential boxing opponents:

“I would like to test myself to
that level. It’s not the same sport,
although I’m the champion, I’m in the top in this division. At the
end of the day, it’s just about like trained hands, trained punches,
having a good delivery system to produce bombs and I’m sure that if I
deliver my own punch, it’s pretty good, I can make some damage.”

Fury, 33, is coming off back-to-back
knockout wins over Wilder in 2020 and 2021 after the
duo fought to a draw in their first meeting in 2018.

The Gypsy King owns a 31-0-1 career
record with 22 knockouts in the boxing ring, while Ngannou is 16-3
with 12 knockouts in his MMA career.

The Predator is scheduled
for a heavyweight unification bout against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 on
Jan. 22. Fury’s next fight hasn’t been announced.

It’s possible two of the biggest
stars of combat sports collide in mid-to-late 2022, but a lot of details would need to get worked out before
that becomes reality.

It sounds like both fighters are interested in making the matchup happen, though.