Francis Ngannou says boxing match must be part of next UFC contract
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou says that a boxing match must be part of his next contract with the world’s top MMA promotion.
Ngannou is the top heavyweight fighter in the sport of MMA and he next puts his belt on the line when he takes on interim champ Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in late January. For Ngannou, he is nearing the end of his UFC contract. It has been no secret that the UFC and Ngannou have butted heads in the past few years, but there is still hope that the two sides can come together on a new contract.
If that’s the case, then Ngannou will make sure he can box as part of his next UFC deal. Speaking to TMZ in a recent interview, Ngannou explained why competing in boxing is so important to him.
“It’s always been down the line. This is something that, I’m not taking my eyes off it. This is going to happen either way, and even if I stay — even if or when the UFC and I, we finally, we finalize a (new) deal, the boxing part has to be into it, because I can’t see myself to retire without boxing,” Ngannou said (via MMAFighting.com) before adding his potential opponents in the boxing ring.
“All of them. Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder — I would like to test myself to their level. It’s not the same sport, but although I’m the champion, so I’m in the top in this division, and at the end of the day, it’s just about throwing hands, throwing punches, having a good delivery system to throw those bombs. And I’m sure that if I deliver my own punches pretty good, I can make damage (on them),” Ngannou said.
Do you think that Francis Ngannou will get a boxing match as part of his next UFC contract?
