Francis Ngannou has detailed the steps he and Jon Jones must take to finally realize their highly anticipated heavyweight fight.
Legendary two-division champion Jones recently issued a challenge to Ngannou after coach Eric Nicksick hinted at a potential return to the UFC. Ngannou is currently signed with PFL, balancing his fighting career with executive and ambassadorial responsibilities.
PFL has previously shown willingness to allow Ngannou to compete outside their promotion, notably permitting him to box Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua without co-promotion. This history suggests they might support involvement in a historic heavyweight showdown.
Ngannou Accepts Jones` Challenge for Superfight
Francis Ngannou, not a frequent user of X, responded promptly to Jon Jones` callout, breaking his social media silence. He essentially accepted the challenge, clarifying that both individuals need to navigate their respective promotional situations.
Jones had initially posted on X: “I’m hearing Francis Ngannou is still interested… now we’re talking. That’s a real super fight. A clash of champions, not just hype. He held the UFC belt, I’ve defended mine for over a decade. Two kings from different roads. Not just one legend facing a mouth that’s hot right now, but two real legacies colliding. That’s the kind of fight that actually adds something special to my story. At least from my point of view.”
Ngannou replied, seemingly alluding to the need for both promotions to agree: “You take care of the UFC, I’ll take care of the PFL. And we’ll finally find out who’s the KING OF THE HEAVYWEIGHT.”
While PFL bosses such as Donn Davis and Peter Murray have openly stated their eagerness for the fight, securing Dana White`s agreement presents a greater challenge. White has vowed never to work with Ngannou again following Ngannou`s contentious departure from the UFC with the belt in 2023.
Jon Jones Angers Fans by Overlooking Tom Aspinall
The notable issue surrounding such a potential fight is, of course, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The British fighter has long pushed for an undisputed title fight with Jones, but seems increasingly distant from making it happen.
It now appears Aspinall could be sidelined in favor of Ngannou, who technically never lost the undisputed belt in competition. With significant debate over the true champion status between Jones and Aspinall, many argue Ngannou holds the more legitimate claim as the lineal champion.
Indeed, the Cameroonian marketed himself as the lineal champion for both of his professional boxing appearances and his single PFL bout last October. He has become a regular presence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where lucrative deals have brought together boxing promoters who were previously adversarial.
However, a reconciliation between Dana White and Ngannou appears improbable at this time, particularly given the perceived feud between the UFC CEO and Saudi figure Turki Alalshikh.
Jones faced considerable trolling from fans who accused him of avoiding Aspinall. He later posted on X: “You clowns thinking, Francis would be that much easier because of the ground game. Tom has no ground game either. In English black belt is like getting a participation ribbon.”
Percy Harlow