Francis Ngannou has admitted any potential crossover battle with boxing star Tyson Fury is unlikely to take place until 2023.
The UFC heavyweight champion is currently preparing to defend his title against Cyril Gane in the octagon later this month in which will be the final fight on his current deal.
He has been called out by the WBC champion Fury for a crossover bout on social media where the 'Gypsy King' proposed boxing rules with MMA gloves.
However the Cameroon star is confident that he would be successful in the iron square but admits the decision is not currently in his power.
“Me and Tyson Fury may fight in 2023. It will be challenging, but I will throw some bombs at him that he will not have experienced before," Ngannou told Stake.
“I don’t know exactly when Tyson and I will fight. But I think maybe sometime in 2023. I am still under contract with UFC, so I don’t know right now the state of my situation or how it will play out.
“But I will say it will probably happen at some point. I definitely want to do it, but we don’t have control over it right now.
“I know it will be very tough when we fight. Not only am I coming from a distant sport, but I am testing myself against one of the best, if not the best, boxer ever.
“But I’m not thinking of fighting someone like Ciryl Gane the same way as I would fight Tyson Fury. I am confident. But it will be something totally different and new for me.
“Fury has proven he can last a very long time in a fight – but I am sure I will throw some bombs at him that he will not have experienced before.”
Do you think Francis Ngannou will renew his deal with the UFC? Let us know in the comments section below
Ngannou responded quickly to Fury's offer by accepting the challenge but admitted he would rather compete with MMA rules and boxing gloves.
The 35-year-old has long hinted at a switch to the boxing circuit after pointing out the drastic difference between his own purse and Fury's for defeating Deontay Wilder in the trilogy last year.
He has also predicted that he could beat Fury's three-time rival Wilder and is confident in his own power matching with the best in boxing.
Any future in the UFC would require him to sign a new contract but he will refuse to sign it unless a clause is introduced to allow him to pursue boxing opportunities.
Ngannou has now admitted this is the only reason he will be unable to commit to any showdown with Fury in the future.
"I do think that is a good fight, it is two years that we have been having this back and forth and I think we should be doing this fight," Ngannou told ESPN MMA.
"I hope so, yeah absolutely this is something that is going to happen. I know that I am definitely going to be in boxing, I don't know when or how yet or the landscape at that moment.
"But that is the only reason I can't confirm it with Tyson Fury."
