Francis Ngannou embracing massive financial success after splitting ways with the UFC may not look good for Dana White, or at least that’s what retired boxer and promoter Oscar De La Hoya cites.
After leaving the UFC while holding the heavyweight title of the promotion, Ngannou returned to professional fighting by making his pro-boxing debut against Tyson Fury in October 2023. Stunning everyone from Riyadh, Ngannou scored the only knockdown of the bout over Fury.
He went on to lose the bout on points but managed to give the WBC champion a hard battle while earning himself a lucrative $10 million payday. There are now reports that he will face former world champion Anthony Joshua in March 2024, and that would earn him another multi-million payday.
It’s safe to state that ‘The Predator’ made most money after getting out of Dana White’s UFC. Now, Oscar De La Hoya utilized the situation to laugh at the UFC CEO.
Oscar Del La Hoya talks about MMA fighters crossing over into boxing: “A MMA fighter going into the ring with an elite fighter takes balls and you have to believe in yourself…that’s admirable” pic.twitter.com/HTw5ikzlhi
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) January 6, 2024
He said, “I heard Dana White say something about, ‘Well, these MMA fighters are not making more money in boxing’. All I could do was laugh.”
“Are you kidding me? Why do you think MMA fighters are going into boxing? [They’re] crossing over for the payday.”
“That’s it and that’s the bottom line. And [MMA fighters crossed over] to test their skills, which is admirable because an MMA fighter going into the ring with an elite fighter not only takes balls… you have to believe in yourself… that’s admirable.”
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Dana White Promised To Never Bring Back Francis Ngannou While The Ex-UFC Champ Already Has Settled His MMA journey
Francis Ngannou looks to be a promising boxer who can also aim at a world title fight in the sport. He was also in talks to compete with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder a few weeks back, Hence, the heavyweight stalwart has a lot of openings available in the combat world.
This might open the doors for more MMA fighters to explore their chances in the boxing world, a trend which was originally popularised by Conor McGregor by facing Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
Referring to the situation, Oscar De La Hoya continued, “When Dana White said, ‘Well, they are not making more money’, [that’s] bullsh*t. They’re making tons of money… That why we’re seeing [Anthony] Joshua with Ngannou, that’s why you’re seeing this other kid with the pink hair [O’Malley] calling out… These guys are warriors, man.”
“I’m happy for them [MMA fighters]. Hey, make all the money. Come to our side of the street and make the real money.”
While Dana White has closed the doors of UFC for Francis Ngannou, PFL MMA has embraced the Cameroonian superstar. Ngannou has already signed a lucrative contract with PFL MMA. He is also currently Chairman of PFL Africa and will make his MMA return in the Super Fight Division (PPV) for the organization.
