If somehow the stars align for Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury to box each other, Joe Rogan will be watching.
The UFC commentator and podcast host recently gave his thoughts on the matchup, which both UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou and boxing champion Fury have bantered about for weeks on social media. Besides the entertainment value, Rogan likes the idea of the compensation Ngannou will get as an MMA fighter crossing over into boxing.
“I want to see him box because I want to see him get a giant chunk of money – like, Conor McGregor-style, Floyd Mayweather chunk of money,” Rogan said on a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. “Because when Conor fought Floyd Mayweather, he made $100 million. … I think that’s nice. I’d love to see that. If (Ngannou) fought Tyson Fury, how much money would they be able to make?”
Big payments come with big fights. In Rogan’s eyes, both Ngannou and Fury are major draws, so the numbers could add up and make major paydays a reality. The optics alone of Ngannou outsized by Fury would create intrigue, Rogan said.
“I don’t know,” Rogan said, of fighter salaries. “It’s off the pay-per-view. It’s off what they could sell. Obviously, it would have to be very marketable. Tyson Fury is very marketable. Francis Ngannou is very marketable, especially as a UFC heavyweight champion going up to fight in boxing.
“… It would be weird to see Tyson Fury like a legit 5 inches taller than Francis Ngannou. Oh yeah, Tyson Fury is 6-(foot)-9. I think Francis is 6-(foot)-4 or 6-(foot)-5. I’m not sure.”
Despite his publicly stated interests in boxing, Ngannou still is contractually tied to the UFC. His contract extended an additional fight when he defeated Ciryl Gane by unanimous decision at UFC 270. Fury does not have his next assignment, though a bout with Dillian Whyte appears to be in the works.
UFC president Dana White recently weighed in on the calls for a match between Ngannou and Fury and said it’s all a testament on where boxing stands.
“(I’m not surprised),” White told MMA Junkie and other media at the UFC on ESPN 32 post-fight news conference. “Listen, these guys – none of this surprises me. These boxing guys need guys to fight. That’s what it shows. It doesn’t surprise me at all.”
