Arum wants to book Fury-Ngannou, willing to work with White

Top Rank Boxing chairman Bob Arum hopes a crossover fight between boxing champion Tyson Fury and UFC titleholder Francis Ngannou comes to fruition.

"I think absolutely we want that to happen," Arum, who promotes Fury, told Fight Hub TV's Marcos Villegas. "Yeah, why not? That would be a great thing to happen. ... That fight would do absolute tremendous business."

Fury is scheduled to defend the WBC heavyweight title against Dillian Whyte on April 23, but "The Gypsy King" has said in recent months he's also interested in welcoming Ngannou to the ring.

Meanwhile, Ngannou is in the midst of a contract dispute with the UFC. He fought out his current deal in January, though he remains under contract for additional time because of a champion's clause. Ngannou believes his contract will expire in late 2022 or early 2023, and he's said he'll only compete in the UFC again under an improved new deal.

Ngannou's lifelong dream has been to box, and he has been adamant about stepping into the ring against Fury in the near future. "The Predator" is scheduled to undergo knee surgery later this week and will be out of action until 2023.

If Ngannou re-signs with the UFC, a fight with Fury could still materialize. The UFC would simply have to be involved, similar to the Floyd Mayweather versus Conor McGregor bout in 2017.

Arum, who has clashed with UFC president Dana White over the years, said he would be willing to work with White to make the Fury-Ngannou fight happen.

"The truth is, I've never, ever met Dana White," Arum said. "I've never talked to him, never had any interaction with him. He's said a lot of bad things about me. I've said a lot of bad things about UFC, which I believe. So it is what it is.

"But I think if there was a big event, particularly one that we could put on in Allegiant Stadium (in Las Vegas) for 70,000 people, I think White would be right there. And it wouldn't bother me working with him on a big fight."