Bellew Gives Ngannou “Zero Chance” To Beat Whyte in Boxing

In the last few weeks, Dillian Whyte and UFC heavyweight banger Francis Ngannou have exchanged words through the press.

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who works with Whyte, likes the idea of a cross-sport fight against Ngannou. He plans to discuss the possibility of that bout with UFC President Dana White.

In a recent interview, Joe Joyce’s manager, Sam Jones, explained that earlier this year his boxer had a very competitive eight round sparring match with Ngannou.

Jones warned that Ngannou hits very hard and is capable of boxing at a very high level.

Bellew disagrees. He doesn’t give the UFC star any chance of victory.

“Ngannou stands zero chance in a boxing ring,” Bellew said to Sky Sports. “It is a completely different sport with a completely different set of rules and totally different technique. Boxing is so different to MMA and Ngannou doesn’t stand a hope in boxing.”

As far as having them fight in mixed martial arts, Bellew gives Ngannou the edge, by a 60-40 margin.

Whyte was a professional kickboxer and became a two-time British heavyweight champion by winning the BIKMA super heavyweight British title and the European K1 championship. He had a 20-1 record under K-1.

He also had a professional MMA bout, when he made his mixed martial arts debut for Ultimate Challenge MMA on December 6, 2008 – with a demolition of Mark Stroud in only 12 seconds into the first round.

“In a cage? I make it 60-40 in Ngannou’s favour because he has experience with small gloves,” Bellew said.

“Dillian is massively improved, he’s not 18-years-old swinging for the lights. He is established and ready to be world champion. The most improved heavyweight. He massively deserves his shot. He is someone I enjoy watching – like an old-school fighter he’d fight anyone, anywhere.

“But you’re on a hiding to nothing [in MMA] if you fight someone who is pretty good on the floor. I give Dillian every chance in a cage. It is easy pickings for him in a boxing match, a one-sided beating. In a cage Ngannou is the favourite but I give Whyte the greatest chance of any boxer going into a cage. It’s a great match-up because Ngannou isn’t a great wrestler, he doesn’t go to the ground much, he just has a fight with his fists. Dillian is on another level with his punches. If Ngannou thinks he hits hard, believe me, that if Dillian hits anyone with 4oz gloves they will go to sleep straight away.”