Tyson Fury vs. UFC star Francis Ngannou could be bigger than Mayweather vs. McGregor, boxing promoter says

• Another landmark boxing and MMA fight could take place in the coming year.
• UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou was ringside for Tyson Fury's recent win.

A hybrid rules fight involving the world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury and UFC heavy-hitter Francis Ngannou could be a far bigger event than Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor's crossover bout.

That's according to boxing promoter Bob Arum, who represents Fury through his Las Vegas-based Top Rank fight firm. Fury vs. Ngannou would generate "monumental business," Arum said, according to Boxing Scene.

The 2017 boxing rules contest between Mayweather and McGregor is the best-selling combat sports event of all time, as the pay-per-view was sold to 4.3 million households in the US alone.

It was considered a landmark event for boxing and MMA and though there have been similar fights since — involving a combatant from each sport adhering to a specific ruleset — nothing has caught the imagination of the public quite like "The Money Fight."

Arum, though, believes Fury and Ngannou could be the exception.

"This UFC guy, assuming that he's able to fight, that'll do monumental business," Arum told Boxing Scene. "They know each other, and they know how much there is to be made for that fight. I think Fury and this UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou, do bigger business than Mayweather and McGregor."

Ngannou was ringside for Fury's most recent fight

Fury recently defeated Dillian Whyte in front of an estimated 94,000 people at Wembley Stadium in London on April 23.

The 6-foot-7 heavyweight had long proclaimed that the Whyte fight would be his last in boxing, and though he reiterated a retirement plan in the ring immediately after the win, he said he'd be willing to fight Ngannou.

When ESPN reporter Bernardo Osuna asked Fury if Ngannou — who was in the ring with him at the time — would be his next opponent, the 33-year-old said yes.

"I'm the boxing heavyweight champion, [he's] UFC heavyweight champion," said Fury. "He's in great shape — look at the muscles on him."

Ngannou added: "And we're going to find out who is the baddest motherfucker on the planet."

Ngannou and the UFC are currently at loggerheads regarding the fighter's contract situation.

The New York Times reported at the start of 2022 that Ngannou would become a free agent by the end of the year.

Speaking to MMA Fighting's MMA Hour this week, Ngannou said "the Tyson Fury fight has to be part of the discussion" when it comes to contract renewal with the UFC.

"If that's not part of the discussion now, it will never be," he said.

"If I sign another contract now, and basically the same model of a contract, I'm screwed. It's not happening ever. So we have to figure out a way to implement this into a contract."