Tyson Fury confirms talks with Dana White over shock UFC switch but not until after WBC champ has finished boxing career
TYSON FURY has held talks with Dana White over a UFC switch - but the champ warns it will only come once he hangs up his boxing gloves.
The unbeaten heavyweight champion last year sparked speculation he could make a splash in the Octagon after confirming an interest in facing UFC champion Stipe Miocic or powerhouse Francis Ngannou.
But Fury - who dethroned Deontay Wilder of the WBC title in February - admitted he cannot step foot in the cage until his heavyweight rivals are wiped out - including the division's up and comers.
He told iFL TV: “I’ve had plenty of conversations with Dana White about potentially having a fight with one of the guys. But, at the minute, I don’t need to fight UFC guys.
"I need to clear up some of my own stuff. There’s a few guys that need to be fought in this era. I need to fight Wilder again. I’ve got to fight Joshua. I need to fight Dillian Whyte.
“I’ll fight anyone, and there’s a lot coming up too like Joe Joyce, Daniel Dubois and Tony Yoka. A lot of fresh meat to beat on. There’s even fights like Luis Ortiz, whoever.
When I’m finished what I’m doing in my own career, we can look at something like that.
Fury on a UFC switch
"There’s so many heavyweights today. Efa Ajagba, the Nigerian. He looks pretty good, big tall kid. Filip Hrgovic - he looks amazing, too.
"Oleksandr Usyk, Dereck Chisora - he’s in the mix. There’s so many good heavyweights out there to be fought and fights to give the fans."
Fury - the highest paid fighter over the last 12 months - has two fights left on his ESPN deal, and previously warned he would retire once fulfilling them.
But the 31-year-old appears to have made a career U-turn, after revealing he could fight on till he is 40 - replicating Wladimir Klitschko's famous run.
And towards the backend of his campaign Fury - who claims to have accepted an exhibition bout offer against Mike Tyson - is open to fighting the best the UFC has to offer.
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He continued: “Until then, I don’t need a fight with Francis Ngannou.
"I don’t need Stipe Miocic, Brock Lesnar, whoever. I don’t need these guys to fight in a crossover match right now.
"When I’m finished what I’m doing in my own career, we can look at something like that.”
