Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou: Mauricio Sulaiman explains why the WBC supports the non-title fight
Tyson Fury holds the WBC heavyweight title, although his next fight will not be a championship contest.
In fact it will not be against a boxer. He will meet former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who will be having his first boxing bout when he fights Fury in a scheduled 10-rounder.
But the WBC has no objections to Fury taking part in a non-title fight.
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Promoter Frank Warren insists the match-up between Ngannou and Fury is the fight the fans want to see
The sanctioning body’s president, Mauricio Sulaiman, told Sky Sports: “The WBC is absoluty supportive of Tyson Fury and his decision to engage in a non-title bout and a WBC special event contest.”
To justify the cross-over event he cites Fury’s efforts to make the undisputed championship fight with Oleksandr Usyk, the unified WBA, WBO and IBF titlist, and failed negotiations with other contenders.
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“He has tried to land a fight with the unified champion several times, with [Anthony] Joshua and [Andy] Ruiz and all credible opponents, and not having a mandatory contender he may engage in this type of event under the WBC rules,” Sulaiman said.
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Oleksandr Usyk has questioned Fury’s decision to fight former UFC champion Ngannou
There is a policy in place for deciding a mandatory challenger for Fury’s title. Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz have been instructed to fight a final eliminator, but that contest has not yet happened.
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“The WBC has been flexible and supporting to try to find the best mandatory contender of the WBC in the division,” Sulaiman said.
“Wilder vs Ruiz without a doubt would have the best mandatory contender. We are waiting for a final decision [from] both camps. If such is not materialised then we will have to cancel such order and create a new ruling.”
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Sourse: skysports.com