Frank Warren has revealed a potential shock back up plan for Tyson Fury if talks for an undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk collapse.
Warren admitted UFC star Francis Ngannou is a potential opponent for Fury, saying ‘The Gypsy King’ had already mentioned the hard hitting heavyweight to him.
In an interview with SecondsOut, Warren said.
“That [Fury vs Ngannou] is an option that Tyson has mentioned to me – if this fight falls through.”
“But I don’t think it will fall through.”
Although Fury vs Ngannou would be a huge sporting occasion with massive international appeal, boxing fans worldwide will still be praying that a legacy defining undisputed clash with unified world champion Usyk is next.
Talks for the two elite heavyweights to lock horns were said to be progressing well, although Top Rank boss Bob Arum recently admitted there had been a slight hiccup in negotiations regarding the fighters’ respective purses.
Reports suggest Usyk has agreed a deal with representatives from Saudi Arabia who are seeking to stage the event, however Fury is yet to do the same, with negotiations still ongoing.
After the disappointment of talks for Fury to face Anthony Joshua collapsing last autumn, British fans in particular will hope the same pitfalls are avoided and they are treated to the monster four belt showdown.
If finalised, Fury vs Usyk will be the first undisputed heavyweight title fight in over two decades, when Lennox Lewis bested Evander Holyfield all the way back in 1999.
With both men now entering their mid thirties and seemingly at their peak, failure to get the historic bout on would leave a sour taste amongst all in the boxing world.