Politics
UFC heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic wants to fight Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury after facing Francis Ngannou
STIPE MIOCIC is eyeing a champion-vs-champion boxing showdown with either Anthony Joshua or Stipe Miocic – if he retains his UFC heavyweight crown against Francis Ngannou.
The 38-year-old defends his title at UFC 260 against the man he defeated in 2018.
Stipe Miocic has his eyes on a huge boxing match if he retains his UFC title on Saturday[/caption]
Then he has admitted he is looking into a potential crossover to face whichever Brit boxer wins the £200m unification fight this summer.
When asked by ESPN why he wanted to fight Joshua or Fury, Miocic said: “It’s a different combat, boxing is all about technique.
“It’s more of a fair fight (than if they fought in MMA); we both fight standing but we can kick and take down, and they’re not used to that.”
Miocic first won the heavyweight championship in 2016 by knocking out Fabricio Werdum.
He defended the belt three times with victories over Alistair Overeem, Junior dos Santos and Ngannou before he lost it to Daniel Cormier.
Miocic gained revenge against Cormier before he won their trilogy fight back in August.
Ngannou is coming into the fight on a four-match winning streak, with the champ expecting a much tougher test than their first meeting five years ago.
Miocic told MMA Fighting: “It won’t be nothing like the first fight because he’s definitely gotten better and so have I.
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“A lot of things are going to change. I’m trying to make it a more one-sided fight, and of course try to end it early, but he’s gotten better.
“The man hits hard and it’s the heavyweight division so anything can happen.
“He’s got a great coach and a great team and they’re definitely working with him, making him better. He’s definitely gotten better but so have I.
“I think whoever implements their game plan the best is going to win.
“He’s definitely gotten better but he’s also got that one factor that everyone thinks he hits hard and he does hit hard. You’ve just got to watch out for it.”
Anthony Joshua will try to unify the heavyweight boxing division this summer[/caption]
Tyson Fury will battle him to determine the true heavyweight king[/caption]
