Marquel Martin, representative of Francis Ngannou, has provided further details regarding the amount that his man is set to make ahead of the upcoming crossover clash with WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury.
Ngannou left the UFC earlier this year after failing to agree terms for a new contract with Dana White, the president of the MMA franchise, making the Cameroonian the first reigning champion to leave the UFC since BJ Penn in 2004.
Since then, the 36-year-old has signed a deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) to further his career in mixed martial arts in 2024, but decided to first try his hand at boxing.
‘The Predator’ has now signed an astonishing deal to jump in at the deep end of the heavyweight division and take on world champion, Tyson Fury, later this year – and Martin told The MMA Hour he was set to receive a staggering amount of money.
“Let’s just say this, the bag is so big, he may actually drop it on the way to the bank. Let’s just say that. If anyone even tries to come at us, I don’t even know what the haters are trying to say right now, I kind of just blocked it out, but they’ll just be proven wrong again. This is life-changing, this is exactly what we planned and visualised, so we are happy.”
“By far [he is making more in this fight than all his UFC bouts combined], by multiples. Even by being champion, he would’ve had to fight multiple times just to [be near this amount].”
Martin went on to reveal that Ngannou will earn more fighting Fury than he would during the entirety of the contract that he was provided by the UFC to re-sign whilst heavyweight champion, reportedly the most lucrative offer in UFC history barring Conor McGregor.
It’s of little surprise given the amount of money Saudi Arabia have been willing to invest into boxing and other sports.
The spectacle will take place in Riyadh on October 28 with further details expected to be announced in due course.