Aspinall reveals Fury wants him back as sparring partner for Ngannou
Tom Aspinall reveals Tyson Fury wants him back as sparring partner as preparation for Francis Ngannou fight, as British UFC star insists he ‘is ready now’ to face Jon Jones with big win at UFC London
- Tom Aspinall headlines UFC London against Marcin Tybura this Saturday
- His last outing in same arena was disaster as he picked up knee injury
- Having fully recovered, Aspinall could set up title shot with big win
Tom Aspinall thought the days of being called in as fresh heavyweight meat for Tyson Fury’s sparring had long gone and he’s now a bona fide star in his own right.
Again, this Saturday a UFC London card is being propped up on his broad shoulders as he faces Marcin Tybura.
But the phone has still been ringing and Fury wants him to lace up boxing gloves and help him prepare for an October crossover bout with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
‘He called me the other day and asked if I’d help him with training’, Aspinall revealed on Wednesday. We’ll see how it can fit in.
‘I think Ngannou has a puncher’s chance but it is very, very small. I sparred Tyson a lot and I think someone with the inexperience of Ngannou is going to find it really tough. He punches like a truck but Fury is a master and I think it’ll be a tough one.’
Tom Aspinall (left) takes on Marcin Tybura (right) at the O2 Arena on Saturday night
Tyson Fury has called Tom Aspinall asking him to help prepare him for Francis Ngannou
The Brit’s ultimate goal is to hold the gold once owned by Ngannou at the top of the UFC’s heavyweight division and he could well have a mega-fight of his own if he manages a devastating finish at the O2 Arena.
‘Heavyweight MMA has it’s own rules in my opinion. Ranked No 5 vs ranked 10, if I lie on him then it will do nothing but if I knock him out with a crazy spinning elbow then suddenly I’m No 1 contender. I think I’m ready now to fight Jon Jones.
Jones holds the belt having beaten Ciryl Gane on his comeback but has hinted at retirement after his match-up with Stipe Miocic later this year.
Aspinall hopes the man many regard to be the best of all time can be lured into sticking around to fight him.
‘I think the Jones vs Miocic one is interesting, tough to pick a winner,’ he went on.
‘Stipe is getting long in the tooth with miles on the clock. Jones we know exactly where he’s at. I would say he has the edge definitely.
‘I hope Jones sticks around and that’s my Jones fight. I want to excite Jones. He probably doesn’t know who I am. I want him to look and me and think he needs to test himself against me.’
The last time Aspinall was in action he injured his knee severely in the opening seconds
There were some raised eyebrows when Aspinall accepted a fight against Tybura, with fans thinking he should be aiming upwards rather than taking on the No 10.
The home fighter is heavy favourite with the bookies but his opponent is on form and Aspinall has noticed a change in his body shape too.
‘I think Tybura is hiding a little belly under there, maybe he’s got that skinny fat thing going on. No, he’s in good shape!
‘He does a lot well, I don’t understand why people are counting him out, he’s won seven of the last eight and that’s a pretty good record.
‘I’ve taken him extremely seriously. I’ll be moving around nicely on Saturday and everything is recovered (after his knee injury). Close people to me know I was training on one leg, with two legs I’ve got a lot more to offer! It will surprise a few people.
‘I just want to fight again, I’ve missed it more than I’ve realised and can’t wait. Being injured gave me time to get everything right in my life.
Jon Jones could face Aspinall in England, teased Dana White in a recent interview
‘I feel like I’ve changed a lot inside and outside the gym and this time has given me a chance to work with good heavyweights in training but ultimately I still have to show it on Saturday.’
Aspinall has never been past the second round in any fight in his career so far and Tybura sniffs the chance to test him in uncharted territory.
The Polish fighter said: ‘The key is to drag him into deep waters, I don’t know if it will be five rounds, it is something unknown how he’ll look late on. I just want to go hard from the beginning, if I want to make him tired I have to be tired too.
‘I hope he is 100 per cent ready because that excites me. There’s no doubt that he will be my toughest opponent to date.’
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