Tyson Fury is continuing to call for a 'hybrid fight' against Francis Ngannou - and he wants boxing legend Mike Tyson to be the referee.
Ngannou is now able to compete in the ring after vacating his UFC heavyweight title and parting ways with the promotion. The Cameroonian knockout artist was caught up in a contract battle with the UFC for two years and became a free agent last month when his old deal expired.
Ngannou refused to re-sign with the UFC despite being offered $8million to fight Jon Jones as they wouldn't agree to several of his exclusive requests. Fury teased a crossover fight with Ngannou last April following his knockout win against Dillian Whyte at Wembley.
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Ngannou got in the ring with Fury as the pair agreed to meet in a hybrid fight and with MMA fighter now out of the UFC, the heavyweight spectacle is a real possibility. And whilst in attendance for the Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Smith fight on Saturday night, Fury laid out his rules for a fight with Ngannou.
"Francis Ngannou, you want to earn some big boy money? Come and see 'The Gypsy King' and let's do a big big fight for the baddest MF on the planet," Fury told Seconds Out. "Let's kick it up spicy, in a cage 4oz gloves under Queensbury and let's have a bada** referee like 'Iron' Mike Tyson. Did I not just sell that to the world?"
Fury insisted that he is prioritising an undisputed clash against Oleksandr Usyk before facing Ngannou, but if the fight falls through then he will face the former UFC champion instead. Fury and Usyk are expected to meet in the Middle East in spring, with just a venue and date appearing to hold up an official announcement.
'The Gypsy King' insisted that a winner of a fight between him and Ngannou would crown "the baddest man on the planet". Ngannou finished his UFC tenure on a six-fight win streak and is still considered by many to be the promotion's heavyweight champion as he never officially lost the title.
"The Francis Ngannou fight I am very interested in, I know he's not under contract anymore with the UFC. I'm looking forward to that, if the undisputed fight doesn't get made then I'll be looking at the baddest man on the planet with the Ngannou fight. Maybe a hybrid fight with the MMA gloves on, Queensbury rules in a cage. Make it interesting, that will be a colossal fight," Fury told iFL TV.
