UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou would relish chance to face Tyson Fury

Francis Ngannou would relish the opportunity to go head-to-head with Tyson Fury in his next fight.

The 35-year-old UFC heavyweight champion faces former team-mate Ciryl Gane in a unification bout in Anaheim, California at the weekend, but would take to the octagon with WBC champion Fury having challenged him to a contest wearing MMA’s lighter gloves.

Asked if everything goes to plan against Gane whether he would rather face him or defend his title against Jon Jones in his next fight, the Predator told a press conference: “If you give me the two options, I would choose fighting Tyson Fury.

“After fighting Stipe [Miocic], the John Jones fight was on the table, but it seems like nobody really cares about it, so I don’t know.

“And also, we don’t even know what is the position of John Jones right now. I’m not planning my life based on that. I will plan my life based on the facts.”

Ngannou has made no secret of his desire to make the switch to boxing one day, and Fury’s fearsome reputation in the ring and Connor McGregor’s defeat by Floyd Mayweather have proved no deterrent.

Asked if the prospect excited him, he replied: “Yes, very much because as many of you might know, my dream since I was a kid was to become a boxer. Along the way, I discovered MMA, which has been great to me.

Former WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli has voiced the opinion that even the hugely powerful Ngannou would struggle to compete with boxing’s top heavyweights, but that does not faze the Cameroonian.

He said: “I think sometimes professional fighters can underestimate MMA fighters, but I also think everyone has an opinion.

“Somebody will say I will easily beat him, somebody will say he will easily beat me, somebody will see an equal fight – that’s the fight business. It’s opinion.”

In the meantime, Ngannou will concentrate on the task of beating Gane, with whom he sparred during his time at the MMA Factory showing few signs of wanting to heal the rift with former coach Fernand Lopez.

Lopez has since said he regards the fighter as a “son” and that he would like to repair their relationship, but Ngannou said: “Screw him. I don’t play that game.

“I know exactly what he’s playing. Stop being a hypocrite. If you don’t like somebody, speak clearly about your mind.”

* Watch Francis Ngannou look to defend his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC® 270: NGANNOU vs. GANE on Saturday January 22. Early Prelims start on UFC FIGHT PASS at 11pm and the main card begins at 3.00am on BT Sport 2