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Dillian Whyte is hoping to secure a big cross-code boxing fight against Francis Ngannou this year after the MMA star confirmed his departure from the UFC.
The British heavyweight contender has been involved in a long-standing rivalry with Ngannou, dating back to the summer of 2020, and Whyte has revealed that there is renewed interest in the big show.
Whyte scored a points victory over Jermaine Franklin in November, which propelled him back into contention for a fight with the biggest heavyweight name, but now he is willing to settle the fiery feud with Ngannou.
“I’d love to fight him,” Whyte said Sky Sports. “Obviously he’s a champion, a dangerous man, but I think I’m going to attack him.
Ngannou has vacated the UFC heavyweight title after becoming a free agent
“It’s going to be a very interesting fight, because we both have martial arts backgrounds and he’s going to jump on the back, against someone like me. It’s going to get interest and eyeballs.
“Fans all over the world will be interested, because he is a former UFC champion who will face a heavyweight like me.”
Whyte previously branded Ngannou a “cry baby” after they filmed a press conference, which was never broadcast, but the Cameroonian-French fighter is now free to agree terms for a boxing match after ending his spell as UFC heavyweight king.
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Back in 2008 Whyte made his MMA debut, knocking out his opponent in just 12 seconds!
A successful former MMA fighter, Whyte once stopped a fight in 12 seconds, and will also be willing to face Ngannou in the cage after the boxing bout.
“These guys know there’s more money in boxing than in MMA,” Whyte said.
“It’s good to be a champion in two sports – something I’ve always wanted to do – so I know he has a lot of drive to do something like that.
“A lot of these boxers pick on these MMA and martial arts guys and beat them in the boxing ring, but they’re not brave enough to step into the cage. I’d love to fight them in the boxing ring as well as in the cage.
“It’s easier to beat someone with a 4oz glove that has no padding. Can he do the same thing with a 10oz boxing glove? I know he can.”
Discussing possible dates for the fight, Whyte added: “Late March, early April that’s like it. That would give him plenty of time for a full camp.
Whyte defeated Jermaine Franklin in November
“It will be a fair fight. He will have time to train, I will have time to train, and we will fight very good boxing.”
Whyte is coming off brutal defeats against Derek Chisora, Alexander Povetkin and Lucas Browne on record and is far from intimidated by the prospect of an explosive encounter with Ngannou.
“I believe in myself, I know what I want,” Whyte said.
“Obviously he’s a good fighter, he’s strong, but there are a lot of holes in his game. He throws from a distance, he’s a slugger. In MMA, that style works, because you have small gloves and you just need to connect anywhere with people to do damage.
Dillian Whyte is the VOW Nutrition Ambassador
“But this is boxing, you need good skill and good timing. They can’t go out and start slugging and think you can beat people.
“No, the man standing in front of him can knock him out, all the punches he throws. He’s dangerous and a very strong man, but it was a good fight for me, to be honest.”
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