WBC Heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, has taken to social media to call out UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, challenging him to a fight. Just to be clear, Fury is a boxing champion, while Ngannou is a mixed martial art champion – two similar but different sports.

Taking to his social media page on Thursday, Fury wrote: “Who would like to see me fight this beast (with) boxing rules and ufc gloves?” He tagged Ngannou and UFC President Dana White to the post. He also posted a fan art fight poster with him and Ngannou on it. Classic Fury.

Ngannou replied: “How about MMA rules with boxing gloves? I can do you that favour.” But it did not end there.

Fury then wrote: “You want to come into my world, calling me and Deontay Wilder out to a boxing match.

“What I can guarantee [is] you would be knocked out and also paid your highest purse to be so! So have a think.” Ngannou had earlier said that he would like to face Fury or Wilder before he retires, stating that he does not imagine himself retiring without boxing.

To end things, Ngannou replied Fury: “After I handle business on Jan 22, I’ll fight you under any special rule set you want. In a ring, an octagon or a phone booth.” Ngannou would defend his heavyweight title when he faces Ciryl Gane on January 22 at UFC 270.

It is not every day you see a boxer and an MMA fighter exchanging words, which is what makes this Fury-Ngannou exchange special. Fury and Ngannou are top-ranked fighters in their respective sports, and a fight between both of them would be epic. Sure, it would not be the first time a boxer and an MMA fighter would face-off, but previous fights have not featured heavyweight champions.

We wait to see how this would play out in the coming days.

Written by: Leon Osamor