The anticipation surrounding Tyson Fury’s next opponent continues as the WBC heavyweight champion teases the possibility of a crossover boxing match against either Francis Ngannou or Jon Jones.
While nothing has been confirmed, Fury’s remarks have sparked interest and speculation within the combat sports community.
Recently, International Boxing Hall of Famer Andre Ward expressed his desire to witness both events, although he believes they are unlikely to materialize in the near future. Speaking to Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour, Ward shared his thoughts:
“I don’t see Tyson really fighting either one of those guys. I think Tyson will take a bag like Floyd [Mayweather] did, but I think Tyson is really trying to figure this boxing thing out. “I want to see what happens with him with this fighting because he seems to have trouble getting a fight in boxing, much less an MMA fight, and I don’t think right now Tyson Fury should do that.”
Ward emphasized the importance of Fury’s return to the boxing ring and the expectations of the fans. With Fury’s extended absence, Ward acknowledged the boxing community’s eagerness for his next bout:
“You’ve been off with boxing, the boxing world is a bit upset. They’re clamoring like, ‘Dude, what’s next? We hear you talk, but where’s the fight?’ “If he took that, if he veered that way right now, I don’t think it’d be the right time. Get a boxing fight, [Oleksandr] Usyk, [Anthony] Joshua, something like that, and then go fight one of those guys.”
While Fury has engaged in verbal exchanges with both Ngannou and Jones, no official agreements or contracts have been announced. Fury’s last bout took place in December 2022, and his return to the ring has been eagerly awaited by fans worldwide.
Adding fuel to the speculation, Fury revealed that the UFC offered him a contract to face Jon Jones in a hybrid event. Acknowledging the numerous options available, Fury expressed his optimistic outlook for the future:
“There’s talks of me and Jon Jones doing a hybrid fight as we talk right now. I received an offer from the UFC yesterday, so you never know what’s going to happen. The future is bright for sure, and there’s a lot of options out there.”
Ngannou, who was previously denied permission to participate in a boxing match while with the UFC, shared his perspective on the situation. He hinted that the UFC’s interest in Fury’s crossover fights might be driven by their desire to find a way to defeat him:
“That was never an idea when I was in the UFC. Now that I’m not in the UFC, I think everything is all about how to take down Ngannou, but Ngannou stands up.”
As the discussions and speculations surrounding a potential crossover bout involving Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou, and Jon Jones continue, fans eagerly await further developments. The boxing world anticipates Fury’s return to the ring and the potential matchups that lie ahead, ensuring excitement and intrigue in the heavyweight division.
Since 2014, Benny A. King has been fully immersed in the world of combat sports. Starting with a blog about Greco Roman wrestling, Benny’s passion for combat sports has led him to explore various disciplines.