Francis Ngannou has insisted a boxing fight with Tyson Fury is his main priority despite his rival branding him a "chicken".
The UFC's heavyweight champion has traded verbal barbs with Fury for several months over a potential crossover bout, with both men agreeing to a future fight. He climbed into the ring after the 'Gypsy King's' victory over Dillian Whyte to confirm his intentions to meet Fury in 2023.
Fury renewed his rivalry with Ngannou on social media yesterday, tweeting with a chicken emoji: "Thought you wanted some smoke. Let's do a proper fight! Wembley Stadium 2022." Ngannou has now fired back, responding: "Don't you dare think that I am taking my eyes off of you. You're still my priority! I'm coming for all the smoke. 2023."
The boxing star ended the social media exchange, writing: "Bring it on big boy. You wouldn’t last a round with me, muscles." Ngannou is currently out of action after undergoing knee surgery following his victory over Cyril Gane earlier this year. His future with the promotion also remains up in the air after his contract expired.
Ngannou has insisted any new deal must include a clause which will allow him to pursue any crossover bout with Fury. The 'Gypsy King' initially proposed the mixed-rules bout on social media last year using MMA gloves and boxing rules. Ngannou accepted the call-out before countering the offer with MMA rules and boxing gloves.
Any bout is likely to be an exhibition with Fury announcing his 'retirement' from the professional ranks after defeating Whyte. However it has been made particularly complicated with UFC president Dana White not keen on staging the bout.
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Ngannou remains tied down to a deal with the promotion and wants to continue fighting in the cage alongside fresh boxing exploits. However Fury's co-promoter Bob Arum wants to make the fight and is willing to make a lucrative offer to draw Fury back into the ring.
“Ngannou is still recovering from an injury, but I would love to do that fight,” Arum told Fight Hub TV. "Depending on Ngannou’s contract with the UFC, we need to do it with or without the UFC. But that would be a huge, huge event. I’m interested. Who wouldn’t be? Ngannou is the heavyweight champion of the UFC and with Tyson Fury, I think it will be a huge, huge event.”
Ngannou is targeting a return by the end of the year at the earliest but has refused to be drawn by any talk of a potential opponent. “If everything goes well, I will be ready by the end of the year because it is going to be nine months,” Ngannou told TMZ. “(I want to be back in) late December or early next year. “For now, let’s fight for the situation and get everything squared up with my contract."
