Jose Aldo told Francis Ngannou he “shot himself in the foot” in search of a potential boxing fight.
Ngannou abandoned his UFC heavyweight title over contract disputes with the promotion, may be in search of a boxing bout, or even an MMA fight with another promotion. He has leaned towards boxing due to the lucrative nature of the contracts.
Deontay Wilder danced around talks with Ngannou over a two fight deal in Saudi Arabia, after the Wilder-Fury trilogy chapter closed. Now Tyson Fury reigns supreme over the heavyweight division. Former UFC featherweight champion and bantamweight title contender Jose Aldo has other things to say about the Cameroonian’s potential move to boxing.
Aldo Speaks Out on Francis Ngannou
“”With all [humility], I think Ngannou shot himself in the foot,” Aldo said when translated by MMA Fighting. “He had everything to [gain from signing] a great contract, the biggest [amount] in heavyweight [to date], but this desire to be a boxing champion or to fight in boxing? People see the top of the boxing pyramid getting paid big numbers but forget that the lower part is paid so little.”
“I think the UFC has bigger salaries than boxing. It’s like saying I want to play soccer because they get paid millions but forget only five per cent get paid millions, the rest make way below that.”
Aldo’s point challenges the narrative that boxing pays much better than MMA. He argues that it pays their stars light years ahead of what MMA fighters make. However, fighters in either sport make a poor amount at the top when compared to other athletes.
“”People say that the UFC doesn’t pay that well, but it does. That’s why it’s the biggest organization. You can make money like [big] boxers can. Conor [McGregor], Ronda Rousey. People say women don’t make money and she’s made it, right,” Aldo said.
Does Ngannou Boxing?
Before he wound up vacating his title, Ngannou traded blowsto Dillian Whyte after Whyte came after him on social media. However, Ngannou has looked towards lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. As of late, Fury has agreed to terms on social media, but nothing has totally materialized.
Francis Ngannou has also been shopping around other MMA promotions, most notably PFL, and he wants to potentially have a career in both sports. However, he made clear to Ariel Helwani that he wanted to go boxing first.
“Yes, we have had the conversation and at this moment, we’re more closer than with anybody else…somebody will take somebody’s head off. I would just try [for it] not to be mine. I think that’s probably what’s going to happen.”
““I have made a decision. Without making a done deal, I know what my next move is going to be. I know that I want to fight boxing first and then after that I will fight MMA,” Francis Ngannou said.
Hopefully, he will be back in some sort of sport soon, and bringing the thunder that caused him to skyrocket to the top of the UFC.
Quotes Credited to MMA Hour and MMA Fighting
Featured Image Credits to Embed from Getty Images
