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Ngannou Set to Face Fury in Historic Boxing Match
Former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, is gearing up for a thrilling boxing match against WBC heavyweight king, Tyson Fury. The clash, set to take place on October 28, has sparked massive interest among combat sports fans.
Dana White's Initial Reluctance
UFC boss Dana White was initially skeptical about Ngannou's crossover into boxing. He voiced his sentiment during a fiery face-off between the two fighters on ESPN last May. White referred to such fights as "f*****g' stupid" and a "waste of time, energy, and money."
A Change of Mind?
During the UFC 293 post-fight press conference, White seemingly softened his stance on Ngannou's upcoming match. He said, "Good for him," possibly hinting at his approval of the former heavyweight champion's record-breaking payday.
Ngannou's Departure from the UFC
Ngannou's departure from the UFC in December came after failed contract negotiations. The Cameroonian fighter subsequently signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), which allowed him to pursue the highly-anticipated bout with Fury.
White's Surprise at Ngannou's New Deal
White expressed surprise and confusion over Ngannou's contract with the PFL. He questioned the logic of paying a fighter to not compete for an extended period and highlighted that Ngannou had only fought three times in the last three years. White's skepticism increased after Ngannou's recent loss to Ciryl Gane, further reinforcing his belief that the outcome against Jon Jones would have been the same.
This highly-anticipated boxing match between Ngannou and Fury is set to make waves in the combat sports world. While initial doubts were raised by Dana White himself, it seems he may have come around to the idea of this historic matchup.
