Should Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury happen, it won’t be like a typical MMA vs boxer fight.
Ngannou and Fury have been teasing a potential fight with each other for well over a year now.
Things got even more serious when following Fury’s win over Dillian Whyte last night, Ngannou entered the ring and the pair spoke of a hybrid fight in the near future.
Fury and Ngannou talk hybrid fight.#FuryvsWhyte pic.twitter.com/KaBgGW1Ckb
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) April 23, 2022
Rather than just a straight up boxing or MMA fight, a potential fight between the pair would have a mix of both sports so neither one has a true advantage.
In a recent appearance on the Schmozone Podcast, Ngannou’s coach Dewey Cooper proposed what the exact ruleset should be.
“Boxing fight, MMA gloves, but 8oz MMA gloves in a cage,” Cooper said. “Not to be an Octagon, has to be a cage — we meet halfway. … 8oz MMA gloves like the puffy ones guys spar in and make it a boxing fight. But you can’t clinch.
“… Dirty boxing is legal. Basically like the bare knuckle boxing rules, just with 8oz MMA gloves and a cage.”
Francis Ngannou Coach: We’ll See If Fury Has The Same Energy
While the smaller gloves would favor Ngannou, it would still largely be a boxing match which would undoubtedly favor Fury.
However, Cooper believes the smaller gloves would play a huge factor. Especially when you consider how devastating Ngannou’s power already is.
“That way, it’s not completely a boxing fight, it’s not completely an MMA fight. It’s like somewhere, 65-35 boxer because it’s still more boxing because you can’t kick, knee or take him down,” Cooper added. “And we’ll see if Tyson still has the same energy, if he’s willing to exchange punches with a power puncher like Francis Ngannou with those little gloves on.
“The boxing gloves can save people a little bit. The smaller those gloves get, the realer sh*t gets when it comes to getting hit. I think it would be great.”
It would certainly be interesting to witness, even if Fury would still be the natural favorite.
You can watch the clip below:
