UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou has insisted he is ready to step inside the boxing ring after being called out by Dillian Whyte.
The Body Snatcher previously declared that the MMA star has no chin, while he also took to Twitter to tell UFC chief Dana White he is willing to face any of the top heavyweights.
Boasting a record of 27-1 inside the squared circle, Whyte also has one fight in MMA to his name – a 12-second demolition job of Mark Stroud in December 2008.
Speaking last month about a return to the Octagon, he said: “I would fight in the UFC, definitely, no problem.
“Ideally I’d want to fight someone in a UFC fight and a boxing match, one of each, either way round, Dana White can hit me up anytime.
“I would fight Stipe Miocic, you just have to keep him moving. I know he would try to take me down but I might put him to sleep before he gets the chance.
“I’ll fight Francis Ngannou too, he would be my ideal fight, he’s the man but he’s got no chin.”
And his comments haven’t gone unnoticed by the 15-3 KO specialist, with the former world title challenger telling Sky Sports he had no idea who he was.
He said: “I know Anthony Joshua but Dillian Whyte? I only heard about him when people sent me articles about him. I didn’t know him before.”
DIL ME IN
Before adding: “Everyone says what they want. I don’t think anything about that.
“If he wants to fight MMA we will find out.
“Yes, I would have a boxing match. Whoever is possible and whenever is possible. The top heavyweights.
“I am always confident in my power. I have no doubts with my power.”
Should Whyte ever face Ngannou inside the ring, you can be sure to expect fireworks with the former British champion boasting 18 knockouts on his record.
And Ngannou has stopped 11 of his opponents, with the 33-year-old racking up four consecutive first round stoppages – with none of the bouts lasting more than 71 seconds.
Former UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping believes it would be a cracking fight, as he said: “I trained with Dillian back in the day, I know him a little bit because he came up to help a training camp with Rampage Jackson many years ago.
“Personally I like to see the best boxers fight the best boxers and the best martial artists to fight the best martial artists. Too often it is a set-up for someone to lose.
“But Ngannou would be a good opponent, he cannot wrestle to save his life but if he connects in those 4oz gloves, it’s goodnight. The gloves are only really there to protect your hands.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
