TYSON FURY has teased a crossover fight against UFC champion Francis Ngannou – but with a twist.
The WBC heavyweight boxing champion shared a poster of himself and Ngannou, tagging UFC president Dana White in the post.
He captioned it: “Who would like to see me fight this beast boxing rules @ufc gloves?”
It comes following a feud between Fury and UFC heavyweight Ngannou, who has talked up a boxing switch before.
The Cameroonian, 35, defends his title against former training partner Ciryl Gane, 31, on January 22.
It is the last fight on his UFC contract and Ngannou has threatened to walk out on the promotion amid a pay row.
And more recently, he discussed wanting a stipulation on his next UFC deal which would allow him to box at the same time.
Ngannou told TMZ: “It’s always been down the line. This is something I’m not taking my eyes off of.
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“It’s gonna happen, either way. Even if, when the UFC and I finalise a deal, the boxing part has to be into it because I can’t see myself retire without boxing.
“Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder. I would like to test myself to that level. It’s not the same sport, although I’m the champion, I’m in the top in this division.”
UFC stars are prohibited from fighting outside the promotion, unless given a special exemption.
Conor McGregor, 33, was given so in 2017 for his lucrative boxing loss to American legend Floyd Mayweather, 44.
But no fighter has since been given such treatment, which has led to Ngannou pondering a UFC exit.
Fury once promised to ‘roast’ Ngannou in a fight, and called him ‘easy work’.
Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder. I would like to test myself to that level.
Francis Ngannou
But the Gypsy King has ruled out ever making a full-time switch to MMA, instead proposing a striking bout in the cage, with the smaller 4oz gloves.
He told talkSPORT in June: “I’ve got no real interest in grappling up and down on the floor and all that sort of stuff.
“I’m a stand-up fighting man, I don’t wrestle up and down and grab each other’s arms and sit on each other and all that.
“I’ve no interest in all that stuff – I like to stand up and fight so would I ever compete as an MMA fighter? Hell no!
“Would I compete with small gloves on in a cage in a fight? Yes. But no gripping and grappling.
“The noble art of standing up and what men have been doing for centuries. I don’t see any noble science in wrestling up and down the floor.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk