Tyson Fury is set to make a ‘game-changing’ announcement according to his promoter, Frank Warren – and it’s strongly suspected to be a fight with MMA star, Francis Ngannou.
Fury put his WBC world title on the line twice last year – a mandatory defence against Dillian Whyte and a voluntary challenge granted to Derek Chisora.
Fans were promised an undisputed bout with Oleksandr Usyk next, but talks collapsed amidst public deadlines and demands. It left ‘The Gypsy King’ searching for an opponent, and, as per reports, he’s landed outside of the sport.
Whilst the Ngannou fight hasn’t been made official, and the rules surrounding it are only speculation for now, former two-weight world champion turned pundit, Carl Frampton, believes it’s a mismatch of the highest order.
On his YouTube channel, Frampton said it was ‘impossible’ for the MMA man to beat Fury in a boxing ring.
“There’s talk of a Francis Ngannou fight. I mean, I don’t know what people are gonna feel about that. In a boxing match, it is impossible for Francis Ngannou to beat Tyson Fury. I’ll just say that.
I’ve met Francis Ngannou – he’s a lovely big fella, he’s a monster of a man as well, but he’s not a boxer. How can a guy who doesn’t box go to beating one of the top fighters on the planet? Some may have him as number one pound for pound. Impossible. You can’t beat him.”
Rival promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes that the Fury-Ngannou bout could be exhibition rules with no knockdowns in play – something that will not sit well with fans.
Should the fight be announced as expected, and it be Fury’s only outing this year, there will be questions as to the proper activity of the heavyweight champion of the world, and the WBC’s part to play in all of that.
As for the odds, they’ll likely follow Frampton’s thinking with Fury an incredible favourite.