Francis Ngannou has been advised to not crossover to boxing following his exit from the UFC.
Ngannou, 36, is now a free agent after refusing to sign a new deal with the UFC despite multiple contract offers from the promotion. 'The Predator' hasn't fought since defending the heavyweight title against former training partner Ciryl Gane last January and UFC boss Dana White has now confirmed Ngannou is free from his contractual duties and can sign with any rival MMA promotion.
The former champion was demanding a clause in a new deal that would allow him to compete in boxing, specifically to entertain a fight with WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Ngannou got into the ring with Fury to tease a crossover fight after 'The Gypsy King' knocked out Dillian Whyte last April.
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Boxing was Ngannou's first love before he unexpectedly discovered MMA, but former cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew thinks the Cameroonian would be silly to lace up the 12oz gloves for his next fight.
"Terrible shame! He will not survive in a boxing ring against anyone of any note," Bellew wrote. "He’s the best MMA heavyweight in the world right now and he needs to stay within his discipline."
Ngannou has also opened the door to fights against Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte in boxing, with the 36-year-old backed to make more money in the ring than he would have made if he re-signed with the UFC.
Ngannou made just $600,000 for his last UFC fight, a fraction of the £22million Fury made for knocking out Whyte and £30million Joshua made for losing his rematch to Oleksandr Usyk last year.
White claimed he would have been the highest-paid heavyweight in promotional history if he accepted their new offer.
“We offered a deal to Francis that would’ve made him the highest-paid heavyweight in the history of the company, more than Brock Lesnar, more than everybody. And he turned the deal down. We’re going to release him from his contract, give up our right to match," White said.
"He can go wherever he wants, do whatever he wants. I think Francis is at a place right now, where he doesn’t want to take a risk. He feels like he can fight lesser opponents and make more money. The guy weighs over 300lb, just had knee surgery, hasn’t had a real training camp. I think that probably has a lot to do with it."
