Tag: Fury vs Ngannou

Dana White: Crossover fights are ‘f—-n’ stupid,’ Tyson Fury has ‘massive advantage’ over Francis Ngannou

Dana White said that crossover fights are “f—-n’ stupid” and added that Tyson Fury holds a “massive advantage” over Francis Ngannou.

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted at MMAJunkie.com.

UFC president Dana White is not on board with the potential crossover bout between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury.

Following his recent win over Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium, boxing’s WBC heavyweight champion Fury stood shoulder-to-shoulder with UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou inside the boxing ring as both men answered questions about the potential bout. Both fighters appear to want the fight to take place and seem confident that it can come together in the near future. White, however, does not agree with the possibility.

“That fight’s definitely not a lock,” White said on The Pat McAfee Show. “… They’ve been talking about it and everything. I mean, guys, Fury is the best boxer – one of the greatest boxers of all time. I mean, you look at the guys he’s beaten and how easily he’s beating them. I don’t know, we’ll see how this whole thing plays out.

“I don’t love the crossover fights. I don’t love ’em.”

This particular fight between Ngannou and Fury would potentially take place with a hybrid ruleset, although the details have yet to be agreed upon by both sides. White was asked to clarify why he doesn’t love the prospect of his heavyweight champ facing off against the best from the boxing world, and didn’t mince in his response.

“‘Cause they’re f—-n’ stupid,” White said. “F—–g waste of time, energy, and money. … It’s silly, but I get it.

“… Boxing is a massive advantage for Tyson Fury. Ngannou just wrestled Ciryl Gane. … If you know anything about fighting, it’s a silly conversation.”

White’s position is quite the contrast from when a boxing match between former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather began building momentum and ultimately took place in 2017. The result of that bout could have played a role in souring White to other crossover fights like it in the future, but ultimately, it comes down to what the public wants, according to the UFC boss.

“The thing was, the Floyd-Conor fight took on a life of its own,” White explained. “I mean, everywhere I went that’s all people were asking me about. It got to a point where fans wanted to see that fight and the media wanted to see that fight, and you know me. People aren’t knocking our door down for this fight.”

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Dana White: Crossover fights are ‘f—-n’ stupid,’ Tyson Fury has ‘massive advantage’ over Francis Ngannou

Dana White said that crossover fights are “f—-n’ stupid” and added that Tyson Fury holds a “massive advantage” over Francis Ngannou.

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted at MMAJunkie.com.

UFC president Dana White is not on board with the potential crossover bout between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury.

Following his recent win over Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium, boxing’s WBC heavyweight champion Fury stood shoulder-to-shoulder with UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou inside the boxing ring as both men answered questions about the potential bout. Both fighters appear to want the fight to take place and seem confident that it can come together in the near future. White, however, does not agree with the possibility.

“That fight’s definitely not a lock,” White said on The Pat McAfee Show. “… They’ve been talking about it and everything. I mean, guys, Fury is the best boxer – one of the greatest boxers of all time. I mean, you look at the guys he’s beaten and how easily he’s beating them. I don’t know, we’ll see how this whole thing plays out.

“I don’t love the crossover fights. I don’t love ’em.”

This particular fight between Ngannou and Fury would potentially take place with a hybrid ruleset, although the details have yet to be agreed upon by both sides. White was asked to clarify why he doesn’t love the prospect of his heavyweight champ facing off against the best from the boxing world, and didn’t mince in his response.

“‘Cause they’re f—-n’ stupid,” White said. “F—–g waste of time, energy, and money. … It’s silly, but I get it.

“… Boxing is a massive advantage for Tyson Fury. Ngannou just wrestled Ciryl Gane. … If you know anything about fighting, it’s a silly conversation.”

White’s position is quite the contrast from when a boxing match between former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather began building momentum and ultimately took place in 2017. The result of that bout could have played a role in souring White to other crossover fights like it in the future, but ultimately, it comes down to what the public wants, according to the UFC boss.

“The thing was, the Floyd-Conor fight took on a life of its own,” White explained. “I mean, everywhere I went that’s all people were asking me about. It got to a point where fans wanted to see that fight and the media wanted to see that fight, and you know me. People aren’t knocking our door down for this fight.”

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Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou: big money, big mismatch

The proposed crossover fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou makes sense from a business standpoint but is a mismatch.

Here we go again.

Tyson Fury and UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou made it clear after Fury knocked out Dillian Whyte this past Saturday that they intend to exchange punches in a hybrid fight, Ngannou saying it will happen next year.

‘Hybrid” evidently means they’d wear small MMA gloves instead of boxing’s version. Otherwise it evidently would be a boxing match.

The matchup makes perfect sense from a business standpoint, just as the fight between superstars Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor did 2017. The mother of all crossover fights generated 4.3 million pay-per-view buys at $100 a pop in the U.S., which was in part the result of tapping into both boxing and MMA fanbases.

Fury-Ngannou wouldn’t do those kind of numbers but it would do well for the same reason. At least one million buys (2 million?) at $79.99 or more is a reasonable projection. That’s why the event is attractive to both men, who are prizefighters after all.

The heavyweight matchup has something else in common with Mayweather-McGregor: It’s an utter mismatch.

The 6-foot-9 Fury is a master boxer who has honed his unusual skills over more than two decades, which has made him the most successful heavyweight boxer of his era. Ngannou’s skill set is solid by MMA standards, crude by boxing standards.

Fury almost certainly would toy with Ngannou until he decides the time is right to take him out, as Mayweather did with the grossly overmatched McGregor.

Of course, Ngannou has a puncher’s chance, which is the most interesting element of the projected matchup. One respected MMA expert told me that he believes Ngannou has the punching power of former heavywight champion Deontay Wilder, who put Fury down a total of four times in their three fights.

And the small gloves might work in the Cameroonian’s favor: The relative lack of padding probably adds to the impact of a punch.

Here are some possible issues for Ngannou, however. One, it’s hard to believe he has the power of Wilder, who is considered one of the hardest punchers in the history of boxing. And even if he does, Fury, blessed with remarkable recuperative powers, got up from all four knockdowns against Wilder.

And, two, the MMA expert said that Ngannou – at 6-foot-4, around 260 pounds – isn’t particularly quick handed. That was part of the problem for Whyte last Saturday. Fury saw everything coming at him, which made it easy for him avoid Whyte’s heavy punches and land his own almost at will.

And, three, while Fury isn’t known as a knockout artist, he can punch, too. He stopped Wilder in their second and third fights and delivered an epic single-uppercut knockout Saturday in front of a U.K.-record 94,000 at Wembley Stadium in London.

None of that bodes well for Ngannou, who, again, would have about the same chance of winning this proposed boxing match as Fury would of winning by MMA rules. Almost no chance.

If you’re aware of that fact and you still want to fork out hard-earned money to see it, then God bless you. Enjoy the spectacle. If you think that Fury vs. Ngannou is a competitive matchup, you might want to think a little harder before committing to it.

I wrote essentially the same thing before the Mayweather-McGregor “fight.” And we know what happened there.

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Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou: big money, big mismatch

The proposed crossover fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou makes sense from a business standpoint but is a mismatch.

Here we go again.

Tyson Fury and UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou made it clear after Fury knocked out Dillian Whyte this past Saturday that they intend to exchange punches in a hybrid fight, Ngannou saying it will happen next year.

‘Hybrid” evidently means they’d wear small MMA gloves instead of boxing’s version. Otherwise it evidently would be a boxing match.

The matchup makes perfect sense from a business standpoint, just as the fight between superstars Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor did 2017. The mother of all crossover fights generated 4.3 million pay-per-view buys at $100 a pop in the U.S., which was in part the result of tapping into both boxing and MMA fanbases.

Fury-Ngannou wouldn’t do those kind of numbers but it would do well for the same reason. At least one million buys (2 million?) at $79.99 or more is a reasonable projection. That’s why the event is attractive to both men, who are prizefighters after all.

The heavyweight matchup has something else in common with Mayweather-McGregor: It’s an utter mismatch.

The 6-foot-9 Fury is a master boxer who has honed his unusual skills over more than two decades, which has made him the most successful heavyweight boxer of his era. Ngannou’s skill set is solid by MMA standards, crude by boxing standards.

Fury almost certainly would toy with Ngannou until he decides the time is right to take him out, as Mayweather did with the grossly overmatched McGregor.

Of course, Ngannou has a puncher’s chance, which is the most interesting element of the projected matchup. One respected MMA expert told me that he believes Ngannou has the punching power of former heavywight champion Deontay Wilder, who put Fury down a total of four times in their three fights.

And the small gloves might work in the Cameroonian’s favor: The relative lack of padding probably adds to the impact of a punch.

Here are some possible issues for Ngannou, however. One, it’s hard to believe he has the power of Wilder, who is considered one of the hardest punchers in the history of boxing. And even if he does, Fury, blessed with remarkable recuperative powers, got up from all four knockdowns against Wilder.

And, two, the MMA expert said that Ngannou – at 6-foot-4, around 260 pounds – isn’t particularly quick handed. That was part of the problem for Whyte last Saturday. Fury saw everything coming at him, which made it easy for him avoid Whyte’s heavy punches and land his own almost at will.

And, three, while Fury isn’t known as a knockout artist, he can punch, too. He stopped Wilder in their second and third fights and delivered an epic single-uppercut knockout Saturday in front of a U.K.-record 94,000 at Wembley Stadium in London.

None of that bodes well for Ngannou, who, again, would have about the same chance of winning this proposed boxing match as Fury would of winning by MMA rules. Almost no chance.

If you’re aware of that fact and you still want to fork out hard-earned money to see it, then God bless you. Enjoy the spectacle. If you think that Fury vs. Ngannou is a competitive matchup, you might want to think a little harder before committing to it.

I wrote essentially the same thing before the Mayweather-McGregor “fight.” And we know what happened there.

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Tyson Fury proposes boxing match against MMA ‘beast’ Francis Ngannou – with UFC gloves

Tyson Fury has proposed a boxing match against MMA ‘beast’ Francis Ngannou – with UFC gloves.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published at MMAJunkie.com.

Tyson Fury is willing to step into the boxing ring with Francis Ngannou – but with a twist.

UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou (16-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) has expressed interest in boxing Fury for years now and it appears Fury is willing to oblige.

But Fury, who has dabbled in some MMA training with former title challenger Darren Till in the past, suggested they box in UFC gloves.

Ngannou responded with a counter-proposal, flipping the script on Fury.

“How about MMA rules with boxing gloves? I can do you that favor.”

Fury retained his heavyweight title when he knocked out Deontay Wilder in Round 11 in a thrilling trilogy bout in October. Ngannou is set for his first title defense when he attempts to unify his belt with interim heavyweight champ and former teammate Ciryl Gane in the UFC 270 main event Jan. 22.

Ngannou currently is having negotiation troubles with the UFC, but if he were to re-sign with the promotion, he wants boxing to be a part of his new deal. In a recent interview with TMZ, Ngannou said he couldn’t see himself retiring without boxing, and he’s eyeing some of the biggest and most accomplished names like Fury and Wilder.

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