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<\/p>\nCarl Froch has branded Tyson Fury’s crossover boxing fight with UFC legend Francis Ngannou a “play fight” and “not proper boxing”. But the former Super-Middleweight world champion has admitted that he would probably do the same given the opportunity, with the Gypsy King standing to collect the biggest payday of his career without even putting his title on the line.<\/p>\n
Traditional boxing fans have been left frustrated after Fury initially failed to agree a defence of his belt against Oleksandr Usyk, instead agreeing to the unusual crossover bout with a man who has never fought in a professional boxing match before.<\/p>\n
Fury has since agreed to a deal to face Usyk, with December 23 being mooted as a possible date for the huge fight to be held at the earliest. But before then he will make a small fortune by facing former UFC world champion Ngannou on October 28.<\/p>\n
Speaking to BettingSites.co.uk, Froch said: \u201cI think it\u2019s a \u2018play fight\u2019 and a bit \u2018joke shop\u2019 fight, which I\u2019ve made my opinion quite clear on regarding this Fury vs Ngannou fight – it\u2019s not real boxing, it\u2019s not proper boxing but I think we are now starting to understand it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think maybe it was a cunning plan by Frank Warren – because what he\u2019s done is got this Ngannou fight lined up that boxing purists are not very happy about but in the meantime he\u2019s announced Tyson Fury is fighting Oleksandr Usyk.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSo people are going to watch the Ngannou fight with one eye on the shape and the performance – thinking of what\u2019s around the corner with the fights quite close together.<\/p>\n
\u201cA bit of a masterplan, genius from Frank Warren, because at the end of the day, Fury is getting paid his career-biggest payday for a \u2018move around\u2019 and I\u2019ve said before I\u2019d have done the same in my career.\u201d<\/p>\n
Froch retired from the sport in 2014 with a record that read 33 wins and just two defeats, one of which he avenged. But despite not taking the emerging world of crossover boxing seriously, he conceded that he would happily fight someone like influencer Jake Paul simply for the money that could be made.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Froch said: \u201cIf you were going to get your head smashed by Jean Pascal for X amount of money you can go and fight Jake Paul for 10x that – with the Jake Paul being a warm-up fight for someone like me as Jake Paul couldn\u2019t even lace my boots. In fact, I would even let Jake Paul lace my boots – that would be disrespecting my boots!<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I\u2019d fight him – earn a fortune because of what\u2019s going on at the minute in the world and easy money and onto a proper world title fight.”<\/p>\n Froch also had some doubts over whether Fury v Usyk will still make it to the ring. He added: \u201cLucky for him [Fury], Frank Warren and boxing that Fury has announced he\u2019s fighting Usyk – because that\u2019s very important that that fight happens. I\u2019m still a little bit sceptical it will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
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