Andre Ward, a former world champion multiple times over and now a boxing analyst, expressed his excitement at the prospect of Tyson Fury going toe-to-toe with Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. However, he is of the view that Fury is more urgently needed in the boxing ring against other contenders.
Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion who recently joined PFL, is predicted to face Fury in a boxing match ahead of his 2024 PFL debut. Ngannou, also known as “The Predator,” is eager to challenge Fury. UFC President Dana White has meanwhile offered Fury a respectful invitation to fight in the octagon against reigning heavyweight champ Jon Jones for the title of “baddest man on the planet.”
When Ward was asked about his preference between these two potential matches, he shared his thoughts with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour.
“I’d be thrilled to see both,” said Ward. “I understand Dana’s approach, and while I might not feel as strongly as MMA fans do, I do get it. Dana, as a promoter, is advocating for his fighter. I have a lot of respect for Jon Jones’ fighting prowess and I am interested to see him fight Tyson Fury, as well as Francis.”
Fury, in April 2022, defeated Dillian Whyte in the sixth round, announced his retirement, and then had an in-ring encounter with Ngannou. But the retirement talk was short-lived as Fury returned in December of the same year to knock out Derek Chisora in the tenth round.
Since then, Fury has been openly discussing possible opponents on social media, including Ngannou, Jones, and Oleksandr Usyk. But, nothing has been made official as of now.
While Ward would be thrilled to see Fury clash with the two most recent UFC heavyweight champions, he doesn’t believe that will happen in the near future.
“I don’t think Tyson will fight either of those guys anytime soon,” Ward said. “While I think Tyson might follow Floyd’s lead in going after the money, I also believe Tyson is trying to figure out his standing in boxing. I’m eager to see what comes next for him, given that he’s been having difficulty securing a boxing match, let alone an MMA one. At this point, I don’t think Tyson Fury should venture into MMA.”
Fury’s absence from boxing has caused some frustration, leading fans to ask, ‘What’s next?’ If he chose to switch to MMA now, Ward doesn’t think it would be the right move. Ward suggests that Fury should first take on a boxing fight, perhaps against someone like Joshua, and then consider fighting one of the MMA champions.
Ngannou’s transition to free agency has sparked widespread discussion in the MMA world following his decision win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022, with the prospect of boxing matches forming a key part of his negotiation strategy.
Ward noted White’s reactions, which seem to be an attempt to undermine his former champion at every opportunity since they parted ways. Ward commended Ngannou and his team for how they handled the situation.
“I admire how Francis is managing this,” Ward said. “When a fighter deviates from the expected path, they’re often labeled as crazy or greedy. It’s always a strange narrative. Francis, however, has handled the situation remarkably well, even with deals that fell through. He stayed composed and eventually secured the deal he wanted.”
Ward dismisses all the noise Dana is making. He concluded, “The fact of the matter is, the guy is set to make a lot of money. People can say
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Tyson Fury matches
Q: Who would Andre Ward like to see Tyson Fury fight?
A: Andre Ward would like to see Tyson Fury fight both Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou.
Q: Does Andre Ward believe these fights will happen soon?
A: No, Andre Ward doesn’t believe that the fights between Tyson Fury, Jon Jones, and Francis Ngannou will happen in the near future.
Q: What is the proposed challenge from UFC President Dana White to Tyson Fury?
A: Dana White has challenged Tyson Fury to a fight in the octagon against Jon Jones to determine the “baddest man on the planet.”
Q: Has Tyson Fury been actively negotiating potential matchups on social media?
A: Yes, Tyson Fury has been publicly negotiating potential fights on social media, including with Francis Ngannou, Jon Jones, and Oleksandr Usyk.
Q: Is Tyson Fury focused on boxing or considering an MMA fight?
A: Tyson Fury is currently focused on boxing and trying to secure a boxing match. He is not currently considering an MMA fight.
Q: How has Francis Ngannou handled his free agency situation?
A: Francis Ngannou has handled his free agency situation well, staying composed and ultimately securing the deal he wanted.
Q: Is Tyson Fury having trouble finding opponents in the boxing world?
A: Yes, Tyson Fury has faced difficulty in finding opponents in the boxing world, leading to frustration among fans and the boxing community.
