FRANCIS NGANNOU has been given a glimmer of hope against Tyson Fury – if they agree to an unprecedented mixed-rules bout.
Fury has called to fight Ngannou in a hybrid bout, in the cage with 4oz gloves on but under boxing rules.
And UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall believes it help level the playing field slightly.
He told talkSPORT: “Punching with boxing gloves and MMA gloves is completely different.
“The boxers are very used to the rings, obviously, because that’s all they’ve fought in, and the cage is completely different.
“You can’t ride punches as well in a cage as you can in a ring. I mean, there’s no leaning back over the top rope in a cage, if you start leaning back you’re going to get knocked out.
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“It definitely evens it up a lot. I don’t know what they are trying to do with the rounds. If they do three five-minute rounds that will suit Ngannou as well.
“It definitely evens it up more than fighting in a ring with boxing gloves on.”
Ngannou, 36, is now a free agent having walked out on the UFC after failing to agree a new contract, which saw him stripped of the title.
But it now paves the way for the Cameroonian to realise his long-standing dream of a career in boxing.
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Fury, 34, is currently in talks for the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed title decider with Oleksandr Usyk, 36.
But he warned attention will turn to a blockbuster crossover fight with Ngannou if terms for the historic unification are not met.
Despite Ngannou’s devastating punch power – which is equal to being hit with a sledgehammer – Aspinall remains realistic on his chances against boxing’s best.
He said: “I think they are good fights for PR and money and stuff.
“I mean, everyone has got a chance, especially with heavyweights, but I think it’s a very, very slim chance.
“[It’s tough] when you’re boxing someone who is a specialist in just boxing, us as MMA fighters, boxing is just a small part of our game really.
“It is definitely a part of the game, but pure boxing is different, it’s a whole other sport on its own
“I definitely think it’ll be great for his career and he definitely has a chance of winning but I don’t think the chance is very big to be honest.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
