Tyson Fury is set to fight former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in an exhibition bout that will have a no-knockdown rule, according to Eddie Hearn.
Heavyweight champion Fury, 34, was in talks to face Oleksandr Usyk at the end of the year in Saudi Arabia, but the undisputed fight has now been pushed back until January. Fury's promoter Frank Warren promised fans a "game-changing" opponent for the Brit's next fight and rival promoter Hearn believes that will be MMA heavyweight Ngannou.
"Yes, I believe so, this is what I've heard," Hearn told Boxing Social of Fury vs Ngannou. "It will be an exhibition apparently, no knockdowns or anything. I don't know, I'm only telling you what I've heard. Who knows what's what, but I think that is apparently what is going to be the next fight.
"[It's] disappointing, but it is what it is. It's a big event, but I wanted to see him fight Oleksandr Usyk. It'd be nice to get an undisputed champion, but Tyson's in charge of his own career and I'm sure he's gonna make a load of money, good luck to him."
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Fury faced off with Ngannou in the ring after defending his heavyweight title last year against Dillian Whyte. The pair teased a "hybrid-rules" fight but Ngannou was unable to negotiate a boxing move whilst still under UFC contract. 'The Predator' parted ways with the promotion at the beginning of this year in the hopes of securing a big boxing payday.
Ngannou signed with rival MMA promotion PFL in May, but he is able to compete in boxing as per the terms of his deal. Hearn also claimed that Saudi Arabia wanted to make Ngannou vs Derek Chisora on the same night as Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder in December, the same heavyweight event that was supposed to feature Fury vs Usyk.
Having been rumoured to face 'The Gypsy King' for well over a year, Ngannou admitted to being confused by Fury's negotiations in recent months. "It's always what I wanted but apparently Tyson Fury is pretty good at bouncing here and there, I don't know exactly," he told Mirror Fighting.
"I am here and I want to fight, whenever he really wants it I'm here. It's been like three years that we've been going back-and-forth on social media so I would be very happy to have the fight. I have seen a lot of comments from Tyson Fury at this point of things I'm a little confused!"
