DILLIAN WHYTE claimed he would be “the greatest combat athlete of all time” if he beat UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou in the ring and cage.
The WBC ‘interim’ heavyweight champion has built up a steady feud with Ngannou, with the pair agreeing to fight under boxing and MMA rules.
Dillian Whyte claimed he would be ‘the greatest combat athlete of all time’ if he beat UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou in ring and cage
Whyte, a former kickboxing champion and 1-0 MMA fighter, reckons a win over the former UFC title challenger in both sports would propel him to unprecedented stardom.
He told DAZN: “I’m trying to make this thing happen, with someone competitive, someone who can win. Francis Ngannou can win a boxing fight because he carries power, and he’s active and young.
“I’m like, ‘Yo, we’ll do one in the ring and one in the cage’ because I’m not one of those guys who is like ‘I want to do it on my terms’.
“No, I’m out here trying to make history. If I can beat him in the ring and beat him in the cage I will be the greatest combat athlete of all time.”
The heavyweight rivals clashed in a virtual press conference hosted by Eddie Hearn, though it has not been aired as the UFC were not informed Ngannou was taking part in the media event.
Ngannou did reveal on Mike Tyson’s podcast that he wants to make his boxing debut and even asked the heavyweight legend to corner him.
The 33-year-old sparred Brit Joe Joyce earlier this year, and left the 2016 Olympian praising his ability in the ring.
Joyce told SunSport: “He is a good boxer and I think he would knock most heavyweights out but I think once he got to the elite world-title level, he would start struggling.
“I think if you were trying to place him at a level in boxing, right now I would place him at British or Commonwealth level, to start.
“But, with the natural physical attributes he has, if he got with the right coach and lots of things clicked for him, then I think he could challenge for a world title.”
Ngannou wants to make his boxing debut and even asked Mike Tyson to corner him
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
