Tyson Fury announces bombshell next fight after Dillian Whyte KO

Tyson Fury isn't done yet.

Despite appearing to confirm that his victory over Dillian Whyte on Saturday will be his last professional boxing bout, the Briton announced afterwards that he plans to take on UFC star Francis Ngannou in a 'hybrid' fight.

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"We are going to find out who the baddest motherf***er on the planet is," Ngannou said after Fury brought him out of the stands to make the announcement.

Fury retained his WBC title with a brutal sixth-round stoppage of Whyte in front of more than 94,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium.

And one of boxing's most colourful and controversial characters then suggested he would stick to a pre-fight vow to hang up his gloves.

"I have to be a man of my word, and I think this might be the final curtain for the Gypsy King, and what a way to go out," Fury said in the ring with his WBC and Ring Magazine belts around his shoulders.

However he might have only been telling half the truth.

It appears he plans to instead change gears after a 32-0-1 boxing career that ended with the WBC belt, thanks to a pair of victories over Deontay Wilder.

Ngannou captured the UFC heavyweight title in March 2021 with a win over Stipe Miocic, and has retained it once against Ciryl Gane in January.

As the pair vaguely described it, we can expect a sort of "hybrid" match, with MMA gloves in a boxing ring with no weight limits.

"This is going to be one very special fight, like never before seen in the history of our sport," Fury said.

"We're not talking about two light guys. I'm 270, he's 270 pounds. It's going to be an explosive fight when it happens."

Ngannou added: "It's going to be a hybrid fight with a different type of rules. MMA gloves in the ring, make something a little different."

Ngannou is still recovering from surgery on a torn MCL and damaged ACL he suffered ahead of his fight against Gane.

He told ESPN he should back on his feet in "a couple months."

Is Tyson Fury really retiring from boxing?

On Saturday, a right uppercut from Fury sent Whyte crashing to the canvas and the champion raised his right hand in celebration.

Whyte, who appeared to lose a tooth from the mighty punch, got to his feet and tried to show he was ready to continue but then staggered - leading the referee to end the fight.

Fury toyed with Whyte for much of a cagey fight, with Whyte - the long-time mandatory challenger - mostly reckless with some big, wayward shots.

It was a 32nd win for the undefeated Fury, who defended his WBC belt for the second time.

"He is as strong as a bull and has the heart of a lion," Fury said of Whyte, who was his former sparring partner from 2012-13.

"But tonight he met a great in the sport, one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.

"I think, even Lennox Lewis would be proud of that uppercut."

If he does retire, Fury will go down as the greatest British heavyweight of all time, surpassing Lewis.

What might make him continue is the chance to be the undisputed champion from what could be a hugely lucrative bout against Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua.

with agencies

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