Fury still wants Ngannou: Come earn 'some big-boy money'

Tyson Fury is still keen to welcome Francis Ngannou to the world of boxing. And now that Ngannou is a free agent, that matchup could actually be on the table.

Nine months after the pair appeared in the same ring at Wembley Stadium and teased a hybrid fight following Fury's win over Dillian Whyte, the WBC heavyweight champion called out the former UFC titleholder once again.

"Francis Ngannou, I know you're out of contract with the UFC. If you want to earn some big-boy money, come see 'The Gypsy King,' and let's do a big, big fight for the baddest MF on the planet," Fury told Radio Rahim on Saturday. "And let's kick it up spicy, in a cage, four-ounce gloves, under Queensberry (rules), and let's have a badass referee like 'Iron' Mike Tyson."

Ngannou is an unrestricted free agent after splitting with the UFC earlier in January.

Fury is expected to face Oleksandr Usyk for the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles in an undisputed title fight. However, he said the matchup hasn't been finalized yet and that he could move on to Ngannou if talks with Usyk stall.

"If the contract doesn't get signed with Usyk next for the fight of the century in boxing, then we'll do the Ngannou fight," Fury said. "Whether it's going to be in Las Vegas or Wembley, who will know. We will know quite soon, I think, because if these fellas don't start coming up and signing the contract for the big fight of the century, then we're moving on to greener pastures.

"Everything's going really, really well," he added. "But again, there's no pen to paper."

Ngannou sat out most of 2022 following knee surgery. He said last week his next fight would likely be in boxing and that he plans on returning to action before July.

"The Predator" dreamt of becoming a boxer well before he found success in MMA. Last week, he named Fury and former world champion Anthony Joshua his ideal opponents.