Dillian Whyte hits out at "pathetic" Francis Ngannou for "running" from fight

Dillian Whyte claims Francis Ngannou "pleaded" with Dana White to scrap their proposed fight as he issued a fresh challenge to the UFC heavyweight champion.

WBC interim champion Whyte and mixed martial arts powerhouse Ngannou have talked up a fight in the past, with both seemingly keen on the crossover bout.

Whyte – who reclaimed his title with victory over Alexander Povetkin in March – went face to face with the Cameroonian last year in an interview which never aired.

Ngannou has since knocked out Stipe Miocic to clinch UFC gold, but Whyte says he was "terrified" when they faced off.

"I’ve already beaten him outside the ring when we recorded a head-to-head last year," the Brit told Sky Sports .

"He’s very fragile. He calls himself ‘The Predator’ but he should be called ‘The Pacifier’ because he’s a real dummy and a cry baby.

"Afterwards he ran to his boss Dana White, pleading to get it pulled. He was terrified of actually fighting me after he had a meltdown on air. Pathetic."

Would Dillian Whyte knock out Francis Ngannou? Have your say in the comments.

Whyte added: "He’s calling out [Tyson] Fury and [Anthony] Joshua when they’re meant to be fighting each other. I’m free to fight so let’s have a real fight.

"It will be interesting to get White and Ngannou’s side of that story down the road. It’s never been explained why it was pulled other than Matchroom saying it came from Ngannou’s side."

Whyte has an MMA background and held titles in kickboxing, and he says he is willing to face Ngannou in the boxing ring or the UFC's Octagon.

"If Ngannou wants a fight tomorrow, I’ll fight him tomorrow," said the 33-year-old. "I want to make it fair. I know some other boxers want to fight an MMA guy.

"I believe I can beat him in both styles. I can beat him in MMA and in boxing. I don’t think he’s anything special, whichever they want.

"The guy is scared, so if doing MMA makes him feel better. If we have a fight in the cage first, he might take it, but if we offer him a boxing fight, then he might say, ‘No, no, no.’ If he wants it, he can get it."

Source: Read Full Article