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      Mike Tyson training Francis Ngannou for massive Tyson Fury fight and warns how it could be ‘game over’ for Gypsy King

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      MIKE TYSON is set to train Francis Ngannou for his fight against boxing champion Tyson Fury. Ngannou will cross over to the ring on October 24 in Saudi Arabia, having walked out on the UFC.
      Francis Ngannou will be trained by Mike Tyson for his fight with Tyson FuryCredit: Instagram / @francisngannou
      Tyson Fury fights Francis Ngannou on October 24Credit: Getty
      And he has called on the help of boxing’s youngest ever heavyweight world champion.
      Ngannou, 36, said: “Bringing Mike Tyson into my training camp is one of the best decisions I can make to prepare for Tyson Fury in the ring.”
      The Cameroonian was first inspired to fight by Iron Mike but he pursued MMA over boxing as it was easier to find bouts.
      But now Ngannou will make his long-awaited boxing debut against unbeaten WBC champ Fury, 34.
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      And Tyson said: “It is no secret I back Ngannou 100 per cent in this face-off of champions. He has one hard punch, and when it lands, it’s game over.
      “I am looking forward to working with Ngannou and supporting his transition from the octagon to the boxing ring.
      “He isn’t a combat novice; he is a world champion. He knows how to compete when the bell rings, but the key will be combining his energy and combat skills into his punches and using his agility to move swiftly around the ring then delivering the knock-out blow.
      “We’re here to win.”
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      Ngannou is looking to inherit Tyson’s moniker as the Baddest Man on The Planet.
      He said: “I’ve been wanting this fight for years.
      “And now that it’s here, I’m focused on fighting the greatest fight of my career and shocking the world on the most epic stage for the fans in Riyadh. 
      “October 28th, the world will know who’s the ‘Baddest Man on The Planet’.”
      Tyson Fury with Francis Ngannou More

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      Jake Paul’s press conference with Nate Diaz descends into chaos as brawl between camps breaks out on stage

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      JAKE PAUL’S press conferences with Nate Diaz descended into chaos when a brawl broke out between their camps out on stage. The pair are set to end years of feuding over the weekend in Texas.
      Jake Paul and Nate Diaz’s press conference descended into chaosCredit: DAZN
      Nate Diaz and Jake Paul goes face to faceCredit: DAZN
      Jake Paul gestures to the crowdCredit: DAZN

      But the fight threatened to start early when the two teams clashed after Paul, 26, and Diaz, 38, faced off.
      The rivalling security squads began to shove each other before punches were thrown on stage.
      Reacting to the ruck, Paul said on Instagram: “S*** popped off, Nate’s team started throwing punches at my security guards.
      “My security guards dropped his team and it’s just a little warm up for what’s going to happen Saturday night.”
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      Paul later claimed: “Nate’s team has emailed my team trying to claim assault after his team swung first.
      “Apparently the guy who swung first is at the hospital getting stitches. Hilarious these fake gangsters acting like this!”
      Paul returns for the first since losing to Tommy Fury, 24, by split-decision in their Saudi Arabia grudge match in February.
      But he snubbed a rematch to instead return against MMA veteran and fans’ favourite Diaz, 38, who will make his boxing debut.
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      🥊 Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz: UK start time, stream, TV channel, details for HUGE Texas fight 🥊
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      Paul vowed to “KILL” Diaz when speaking to the media at the open workout and he stood firm on his claim.
      He doubled down: “It’s not being antagonising or s*** talking, it’s telling the f***ing truth, sir.
      “I’m killing this man, I’m killing this man, I’m telling the truth, sir.”
      Paul prepares to step foot into the ring as a beaten boxer for the first time but he vowed to do so better than ever.
      He roared: “Best shape of my life, feeling amazing brought in a whole entire new team, strength and conditioning, nutritionist, head coach, all of that.
      “I’m feeling good, and when I’m in the shape like this and I have the proper time to prepare you’re going to see a different version, the best version of Jake Paul you’ve ever seen.”
      The rivals fight in Dallas More

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      Jake Paul’s boxing career is ‘on the line’ against Nate Diaz as he ‘may RETIRE’ if he loses biggest fight of his life

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      JAKE PAUL fights Nate Diaz with his boxing career on the line – as defeat could spark an early retirement. The YouTuber-turned boxer returns over the weekend against ex-UFC star Nate Diaz in Texas.
      Jake Paul during his defeat to Tommy FuryCredit: Getty
      It comes following the first defeat of his polarising prizefighting career, having lost a split-decision to Tommy Fury in February.
      So it leaves his future in boxing at stake when he steps foot between the ropes as a beaten man for the first time.
      Paul’s business partner and advisor Nakisa Bidarian told ESPN: “He may retire if he loses to Nate Diaz.
      “His boxing career is on the line, in terms of being one of the top three or four guys in the entire sport globally.
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      “I think if he was to lose, he’d just go to being another prospect that’s coming up in the ring.”
      Paul snubbed a rematch with Fury, 24, to instead face Diaz, 38, who is now a free agent after a storied stint with the UFC.
      And the chance to finally fight the MMA veteran and fans’ favourite proved too good to turn down.
      Paul, 26, said: “Nate has a massive name, he’s a massive pay-per-view draw of the UFC times and to me that’s exciting. 
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      🥊 Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz: UK start time, stream, TV channel, details for HUGE Texas fight 🥊
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      “I haven’t yet fought a massive pay-per-view draw in the prime of their career while they’re still hot and active. 
      “So, to me that’s super exciting and there was that beef that was there and this online banter that was there back and forth that we’ve been trying to and wanting to fight for a long time. 
      “Then finally the stars aligned.”
      Despite the allure of another career-crushing defeat, Paul insisted he only benefited from being beat for the first time.
      He said: “After losing to Tommy I landed myself a bigger name and a bigger fight in terms of the ticket sales, the commercial pay-per-view.
      “Everything is pointing towards this being the biggest event ever and I didn’t think that would be possible after losing to Tommy. 
      “So it’s interesting, I guess you can’t predict these things but I guess the number one thing is if people want to still see my fight then I’ll still have big fights. 
      “It’s really the fanbase that drives me, right. It’s like Deontay Wilder losing a couple of times to Tyson Fury but everyone still wants to see him fight. 
      “It all just depends and it’s really how you go out. If you’re going to get knocked out but if you lose a split-decision and it’s a war and it’s a good fight, it’s a lot easier to come back from that.” 
      Jake Paul facing off with Nate DiazCredit: @mostvaluablepromotions More

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      I was one of Jake Paul’s sparring partners for Nate Diaz fight, two things really impressed me and won my respect

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      JAKE PAUL revamped his entire training team following his first loss. The YouTuber-turned boxer was beaten in February, suffering a split-decision defeat to Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia.
      Joshua Pagan with Jake PaulCredit: @jj_pagan
      Jake Paul and his team before his fight with Nate DiazCredit: @jj_pagan
      So for his return bout over the weekend – against Nate Diaz – Paul went back to the drawing board.
      He parted ways with ex-cruiserweight contender BJ Flores and his co-trainer Danny Smith.
      And instead Paul re-hired boxing legend Shane Mosley, his first ever trainer, to come into the camp as an advisor.
      And Theotrice Chambers will now act as head coach in the American’s Puerto Rico base camp.
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      Paul, 26, has also worked with some top-flight sparring partners, including 8-0 middleweight Joshua Pagan, 23.
      And Pagan, whose promoter Dmitriy Salita put him in touch with Paul’s team, gave an insight into the training camp.
      He told SunSport: “This camp was really great. We trained at 10am every day, followed by strength and conditioning later in the day.
      “It was pretty similar to what a day in my camp is like. Jake’s work ethic and willingness to learn is what impressed me about him.
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      “He comes into the gym focused and ready to work, and I respect that because that is how I am when it is time to work.”
      Pagan and his father had initially expressed interest in working with Paul’s coach Chambers. 
      So Salita then made it known and before long the prospect flew out to sunny Puerto Rico for sparring.

      Paul prepares to face his fourth ex-UFC star, having beaten Ben Askren, 39, Tyron Woodley, 41, and Anderson Silva, 48.
      And Pagan expects a similar result, as he said: “My prediction for the Nate Diaz fight is a unanimous decision for Jake.
      “I think Jake just has too many tools in his arsenal, and what he is learning in this camp is going to pay off and show come fight night.”
      Paul snubbed a rematch with Fury, 24, to instead face Diaz, 38, but Pagan has urged him to go back in for the sequel right after.
      He said: “Jake should definitely have the rematch with Tommy Fury after this fight.
      “I feel like he will win this time around due to his changes in camp and preparation.”

      🥊 Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz: UK start time, stream, TV channel, details for HUGE Texas fight 🥊

      Jake Paul in training to fight Nate Dia More

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      Meet boxing and MMA’s sexiest power couple Daniella Hemsley and Akonne Wanliss who are both OnlyFans stars

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      DANIELLA HEMSLEY and her MMA fighter boyfriend Akonne Wanliss might be combat sports’ newest power couple. Hemsley is an OnlyFans star-turned influencer boxer who recently went viral for flashing her boobs after a win.
      MMA star Akonne Wanliss and girlfriend Daniella HemsleyCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Danielle Hemsley went viral for flashing her boobsCredit: instagram @daniella.hemsley
      Daniella Hemsley is an OnlyFans star-turned influencer boxerCredit: INSTAGRAM
      Akonne Wanliss is an MMA fighter from BirminghamCredit: INSTAGRAM
      And partner Wanliss is also her coach when he is not training himself and opened up on how the two first got together.
      He told SunSport: “We met on Instagram, I think I slid into the DMs, we argue about this all the time. 
      “We were planning on going on holiday without even meeting each other, it was crazy.
      “We ended up meeting and going to a lovely little bar and restaurant and had a great time, really hit it off and found out we had so much in common.” 
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      Wanliss was a male stripper for ten years before giving up to focus on his MMA career.
      But he still finds time to juggle boyfriend and coaching duties.
      He said: “The type of person I am, I feel like that kind of dynamic works. 
      “I can switch my mind of and be very militant and be like, ‘You’re not my girlfriend right now, I’m the coach and you’ll listen to me.’ 
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      “It’s hard, don’t get me wrong because it’s tough seeing your missus going through the fighters’ life, it’s not easy. 
      “Sometimes you don’t have a good sparring day, then she’s crying and you have to choose whether to be by her side and be the boyfriend or be the coach and lift her up. 
      “These things do happen but quite naturally without bigging myself up too much I do feel like a good coach and being able to get the athlete to a certain place mentally or physically.” 
      Wanliss, 30, defended Hemsley, 22, after Eddie Hearn slammed the influencer for her post-fight celebration prank.
      He said: “I don’t know if Eddie was trying to be politically correct or wherever he was trying to come from. 
      “But you take one look at him and you can find loads of OnlyFans girls around Matchroom and it’s like, some on, mate you can’t say, ‘Let’s get this away from boxing.’ 
      “He’s the one promoting it too, maybe he’s a bit jealous of KingPyn or the eyes that were on them but it’s definitely contradictory. 
      “Obviously, I’m going to back my missus and it’s just t****s, man. No one got harmed.”
      Daniella Hemsley was slammed by Eddie HearnCredit: Instagram/daniella.hemsley
      But Akonne Wanliss defended his girlfriendCredit: Instagram/daniella.hemsley
      Wanliss – who like Hemsley runs an OnlyFans account – also models but insists nothing comes close to fighting.
      He said: “I could have £1million in my back pocket right now – and eventually I will do – and I’d still fight. 
      “I’d still turn up to the gym and train and that would lead to me still wanting to compete because I’m a very competitive person. 
      “It’s the competitive drive and I love the process of preparing for a fight, taking a puzzle which is in the shape of another person and trying to defeat that. 
      “There’s no money in the world that can buy that. Yeah, OnlyFans is great and it makes money, stripping is great and it makes money but my passion is as a martial artist.” 
      Hemsley has travelled to Prague to watch her man in action, with Wanliss fighting at Oktagon 45 against Georgia’s Giorgi Gogotchuri.
      The British prospect wants to go down as a legend in the sport having made a name for himself outside of it.
      He said: “My biggest goal is to be pound-for-pound No1 in MMA.
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      “I want to leave my career the best that I can be and I don’t see anything less than No1. 
      “Whatever I’ve got to do. Right now my main focus is the Oktagon title and each fight I’ll be climbing and climbing.” 
      Akonne Wanliss used to be a male stripper
      The fighter also runs his own OnlyFans account
      Akonne Wanliss is signed to European promotion Okatgon MMA More

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      Players who swapped football for fighting, including Rio Ferdinand, Marcin Wasilewski, Wayne Bridge and more

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      FOOTBALLERS are always encouraged to think about what career path they will take when they hang up their boots.Some choose to go into coaching, others invest in property… and some decide to knock lumps out of one another.
      Marcin Wasilewski is set to begin a career in cage fightingCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Former Leicester defender Marcin Wasilewski has become the latest ex-pro to swap shin pads for mouth guards.
      The Pole, 43, retired from football in November 2020 and was tipped to enter the world of cage fighting.
      A bout with ex-Bolton and Hearts defender Blazej Augustyn was even being lined up, however he is yet to fight.
      Here, SunSport details the fighting careers of five other footballers who have turned to the ring.
      Read more football news
      Rio Ferdinand
      England legend Ferdinand’s football career brought several glittering moments but his boxing days were over before they really started.
      Sponsored by a betting company to step into the ring in September 2017, the former defender was jarringly denied a licence.
      The British Boxing Board of Control deemed it ‘not beneficial’ to allow Ferdinand his second career.
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      And the Manchester United hero quickly called time on his boxing comeback.
      He said: “It is with a heavy heart that I am hanging up my gloves.
      “To not be given the chance to demonstrate my ability to the BBBofC through the standard assessment afforded to others is hard to take.”
      Fast forward to October 2020 and Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn revealed his desire to stage an Old Trafford showdown between Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney.
      Rio Ferdinand won a shedload of trophies as a footballerCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The ex-defender was unsuccessful in his attempt at a boxing careerCredit: OnEdition
      Katie Taylor
      Arguably the world’s top female boxer, Taylor is also a former Republic of Ireland international footballer.
      The ex-winger starred for Peamount United in the late 2000s yet missed her side’s FAI Women’s Cup final in 2009 to be crowned Europe’s best amateur fighter.
      Taylor won 11 caps for her country, scoring twice, before choosing to focus on boxing a decade ago.
      Former team-mate Marie Curtin would later tell the Mirror that Taylor ‘would have excelled to the highest level’ had she stayed in football.
      Curtin added: “There were no barriers. Her mindset is so strong and you need leaders like that on your team to win.”
      And Taylor fondly remembers her playing days, even recalling a crunching tackle that was posted on Twitter a couple of years ago.
      I remember it well Derek, it was intentional haha! Thanks for sharing!!— Katie Taylor (@KatieTaylor) January 5, 2018

      Katie Taylor played a number of times for the Republic of Ireland women’s teamCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
      Wayne Bridge
      Hardly the most aggressive left-back of his day, ex-Chelsea man Bridge showed the fire in his belly with a stint in boxing two years ago.
      A Sport Relief clash with Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews saw the defender take on a man nine years his junior.
      The three-round affair started tightly before Bridge unleashed a barrage of blows.
      Matthews hit the deck twice and yet made it to the final bell, at which Bridge won on points.
      The former England international, who has also appeared on I’m A Celeb, retired from football aged 33 in 2014.
      His boxing career ended with that one charity fight and he is now said to refer to himself as a ‘stay-at-home dad’ for the two kids he shares with wife Frankie.
      Wayne Bridge retired from football aged 33 due to an injury nightmareCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      He agreed to a charity contest for BBC Sport ReliefCredit: BBC
      Leon McKenzie
      A star forward for the likes of Norwich, Peterborough and Coventry on the pitch, McKenzie would later forge a decent super-middleweight career.
      Having hung up his boots in January 2013, he pulled on the gloves just six months later.
      A debut win over John Mason at Bethnal Green’s historic York Hall set him on a string of nine fights without defeat.
      An English title fight with Jahmaine Smyle saw McKenzie suffer a first defeat before he rounded off an 11-fight career with a nine-round loss to Cello Renda.
      The ex-striker also joined forces with former England cricketer Steve Harmison for a talkSPORT podcast on sports stars’ post-retirement plans.
      He said: “For a while I was trying to hold on to ‘former professional boxer and footballer’. That was my identity. I’ve accepted my position now.”
      Leon McKenzie helped Norwich win promotion to the Premier League in 2004Credit: PA:Press Association
      The 42-year-old put together an impressive 11-fight boxing careerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Curtis Woodhouse
      Few footballers have made the switch to boxing as convincingly as Woodhouse.
      Birmingham paid £1million to sign the midfielder from Sheffield United in 2001 before spells with Peterborough, Hull and more.
      Disenchanted with the game, he quit aged 26 to spark a long career in the ring.
      An assault conviction halted Woodhouse’s rise but he soon began teaming both of his sports.
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      Over 31 fights, he claimed 24 wins and went 12 rounds with Frankie Gavin for the WBO Intercontinental welterweight belt in 2011.
      The Driffield Destroyer won English and British level titles before retiring in 2017, and can now be found managing non-league Gainsborough Trinity.
      Birmingham once paid a seven-figure fee to sign Curtis WoodhouseCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The midfielder teamed a non-league career with a number of boxing boutsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Woodhouse lost six stone in weight when returning from a spell away from the ring
      Katie Taylor vows to fight on until women are given equal pay with male fighters ahead of world title defence More

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      How Cristiano Ronaldo helped broker Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou’s historic crossover fight

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO played an unlikely role in Francis Ngannou’s shock showdown with Tyson Fury coming to fruition.The former UFC heavyweight champion finalised a controversial crossover clash with the Gypsy King last week – six months after leaving mixed martial arts’ top promotion.
      Francis Ngannou will box Tyson Fury in a crossover clash on October 28Credit: ESPN
      The former UFC heavyweight champion’s boxing debut will take place in Saudi ArabiaCredit: GETTY
      Footie icon Cristiano Ronaldo convinced Ngannou that Saudi ‘is the future’ of sportsCredit: INSTAGRAM@CRISTIANO
      Ngannou’s professional boxing debut will take place in Saudi Arabia and will earn him the biggest purse of his combat sports career.
      The Cameroonian clubber is no stranger to Saudi having visited in January and meeting footie star Ronaldo, who convinced him The Kingdom “is the future” of sports.
      Recalling their meeting during an appearance on The MMA Hour, The Predator said: “Yes, that’s where it started in that moment.”
      In a separate interview with TMZ, he said: “We had a good talk. He told me that Saudi [Arabia] is the future.
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      “A lot of people doesn’t understand now but they are changing really fast, it’s moving really fast.
      “And that’s even what I personally, that was my feeling when I get there.
      “It was my first time going to Saudi and I was literally like, I didn’t really know how to carry myself, how to behave myself.
      “But I get there and find out that everything is cool.
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      “It was just like normal life. It’s pretty cool, man.”
      Ngannou, 36, had a great interaction with Ronaldo – who shocked him with his knowledge of mixed martial arts.
      He said: “I’ve been following Cristiano for the past, maybe 17 years.
      “And then, you know, to get to meet him in person and find out that he is a huge fan of the sport.
      “That he knows a lot about the sport. He loves the sport. He’s watched us fight.
      “He knows a lot about me than what I was expecting. Very impressive.

      “You know, to get someone like Cristiano Ronaldo knowing the game, know you or what you are doing, is pretty cool. He’s pretty big.
      “He’s pretty huge. Listen, it’s like a huge support from him.”
      Fury, 34, is the overwhelming favourite to win the ten-rounder against the boxing Ngannou – who left the UFC as their lineal heavyweight champion.
      But he’s made sure he’ll get a second crack at the heavy hitter should the unthinkable happen.
      Read More on The Sun
      Ngannou revealed: “There is a potential rematch clause.
      “I don’t know exactly how to explain that language, but yes, there is a rematch inside it.” More

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      Tyson Fury includes clause in Francis Ngannou fight contract in case he is KO’d by ex-UFC champ

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      TYSON FURY has placed a rematch clause in his contract with Francis Ngannou in case disaster strikes in the crossover clash.The Gypsy King faces the former UFC heavyweight champion in a multi-million-pound Saudi showdown on October 28.
      Tyson Fury will face former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou in OctoberCredit: ESPN
      The WBC heavyweight champ’s title WON’T be up for grabs in the ten-rounderCredit: GETTY
      The Gypsy King has placed a rematch clause in his contract to face NgannouCredit: POLARIS
      Fury, 34, is the overwhelming favourite to win the ten-rounder against the boxing novice – but he’s made sure he’ll get a second crack at the Cameroonian clubber should the unthinkable happen.
      During an appearance on The MMA Hour, Ngannou revealed: “There is a potential rematch clause.
      “I don’t know exactly how to explain that language, but yes, there is a rematch inside it.”
      When asked if that would guarantee a second fight with the WBC heavyweight champ, Ngannou added: “Oh, for that one, definitely.”
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      Ngannou, however, doesn’t know if he’ll be able to exercise the rematch clause should he come up short against the Brit.
      He said: “That’s what I don’t know. We will see how it goes.”
      Fury would have to wait at least SIX MONTHS to exact revenge on Ngannou as The Predator is set to make his Professional Fighters League debut early next year.
      The Wythenshawe warrior is also expected to re-enter negotiations with Oleksandr Usyk over a historic undisputed heavyweight title fight after his clash with Ngannou.
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      CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023

      Ngannou bagged a monumental showdown with Fury a mere six months after the expiration of his UFC contract.
      And his purse for his professional boxing debut is set to dwarf his ENTIRE octagon earnings.
      During an appearance on The MMA Hour, his manager Marquel Martin said: “Let’s just say this: The bag is so big, he may actually just drop it on the way to the bank.
      “I don’t know what the haters are trying to say right now, I kind of just blocked it out, but they’ll just be proven wrong again.

      “This is life-changing. This is exactly what we planned and visualised, so we’re happy.”
      When asked if Ngannou’s earnings for the fight will be more than his UFC winnings, Martin added: “Oh, my God. I mean, by far.
      “By multiples.
      “Just to make [this money] even while being champion, he would’ve had to fight multiple times just to [be in this ballpark].” More