Francis Ngannou has sent a message to Tyson Fury ahead of their potential heavyweight crossover bout in 2023, with the UFC champion warning the Gypsy King to not step into an MMA octagon with him or he'd "get killed".
Fury had somewhat confirmed that he has plans to fight UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou next year at the Raiders Stadium. The two have gone back and forth over the past few months, and both made their intentions clear of wanting to fight one another.
No fight will happen in 2022 - with Ngannou currently contracted with the UFC, although his deal officially expired, and currently in rehab after major knee surgery which is set to keep him out for up to nine months. After defeating heavyweight sensation Ciryl Gane in January, Ngannou triggered a champions' clause in his current deal, meaning he remains on the roster and under contract until he relinquishes the belt.
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And with an ongoing contract dispute with the UFC the Cameroonian looks set to now be out injured for the rest of the year with his knee injury, before facing Fury in 2023. Fury has spoken, on multiple occasions, of wanting to fight Ngannou, even publicly challenged him to a boxing-MMA crossover fight.
But Ngannou has warned him against doing so, stating that Fury stepping into his world would be a huge mistake. He said: "I don't really care about what it will be, I just think it would be a fight against Tyson Fury. It can be in a phone booth or wherever but that fight will happen.
"Obviously he would not come to MMA, he would get killed. Basically in the heavyweight division if you see people getting in the octagon or in the ring that weigh around 270lbs, everybody can knock everybody out that's a fact. Also it is not easy to knock somebody out, it is not easy to find somebody and land on them cleanly so it could also go to a decision. We have seen this a fair bit over time so this is also possible."
Fury will first fight Dillian Whyte, before declaring his intentions to retire from boxing after his April 23 bout. But Fury still has his eyes on Ngannou, and confirmed that he has made plans to fight the UFC star in 2023.
He told iFL TV: "I am going to fight Francis Ngannou in Las Vegas next year - in March or February. There's been no talks this year, because I have got some boxing to do. But next year we can have some crazy fights. It's a massive fight - I believe it breaks all pay-per-view records in the United States. Two heavyweight champions going head to head."
Speaking to TMZ about making the switch to heavyweight boxing, Ngannou said: “It’s always been down the line; this is something that I’m not taking my eyes off. This is going [to] happen either way. Even if I stay... If, or when, the UFC and I finalise a deal, the boxing part has to be in it. I can’t see myself retiring without boxing.
"I would like to test myself to their level. It’s not the same sport, but I’m the champion, so I’m in the top in this division. At the end of the day, it’s just about throwing hands, throwing punches, having a good delivery system to throw those bombs. I’m sure that if I deliver my own punches pretty good, I can [do] some damage."
