TYSON FURY claims he made an exception to face UFC champion Francis Ngannou, after vowing to retire with a victory over Dillian Whyte.
The WBC heavyweight champion returns to the UK for a grudge match against Whyte at Wembley on Saturday.
Tyson Fury says he will be retiring after fighting Dillian Whyte
Fury had previously promised to fight for the undisputed crown in this year's UFC championship before he agreed to a huge-money deal to face Ngannou, UFC champion in 2023.
The eccentric Gypsy King, however, has changed his mind and will now retire from his fight against Whyte.
Fury however confirmed that it would not affect his goal to fight Ngannou next season.
He also called for an unrivalled boxing match in a cage wearing 4oz gloves.
READ MORE BOXING
Fury stated previously to the MMA Hour, "I don’t consider that a real fight in boxing."
"That's not an amateur boxing match. It's going to be a special fight. It will take place in a 4oz glove cage at Raiders Stadium in Las Vegas.
"I will be able to complete the crossover fights after I have retired from competitive, champion boxing."
Ngannou, 35 years old, does not have any fights on his current UFC contract, but he is still a champion and has been contracted with them for an additional year.
BETTING SPECIAL - GET FURY AT 30/1 OR WHYTE AT 100/1He could still agree to an extension, but he would be able to remain a free agent to pursue his boxing ambitions.
Fury, 33 years old, last fought Deontay Wilder in October. This was their final fight in their trilogy.
After his three fights with Wilder, Ngannou would be challenged by the Brit to face Ngannou, who is arguably one of the most powerful punchers in the world.
He is eager to see the spectacle fight in smaller 4oz MMA gloves. This will even out the playing field.
Fury stated: "We have Francis Ngannou. He's a big man, dangerous guy."
"I would love to see people saying, "Oh, it's no fair fight in 10-ounce gloves," and that's true.
"It wouldn’t be fair to fight in 10-ounce gloves, because, like [Daniel] Cormier recently said, Francis Ngannou was a cruder version Deontay Wilder, which we all know.
"So, I believe that if we were using four-ounce gloves, he would have a better chance of knocking us out. But then again, I'd also have a greater chance of knocking him out.
It makes for an exciting fight. For that fight, I will be at my heaviest.
"I'll do my best to bring in more than 300 pounds. "Just to nail him to his canvas with one solid punch."
RETIREMENT VOW
Fury met Whyte in person this week, ahead of Saturday's clash.
He also reiterated his desire to stop boxing at the press conference, saying:
"It's a pleasure to return to Morecambe, and to be left alone.
"I'm going to delete my Instagram, I'm getting out of being a star."
"I just want to be left alone and live my normal life in Morecambe Bay. I go to school, take out the trash, get a haircut, wash the car, go out once a week, and train every day.
"Win, lose, or draw on Saturday night there'll be no more fights."
