TYSON FURY has been given "special permission" from the WBC to fight Francis Ngannou – and boxing fans are raging.
The Gypsy King will collide with the former UFC heavyweight champion in a lucrative Saudi showdown on October 28.
The fight comes just months after Fury's proposed undisputed showdown with pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk collapsed.
A defence of his WBC heavyweight title was expected for Fury, although it's since been revealed that the Mexican sanctioning body didn't mandate a challenger for him.
They tweeted: "Mauricio Sulaiman said that Tyson Fury received special permission from the WBC to fight Francis Ngannou as there is no official challenger.
"He mentioned that Fury tried to close fights against [Andy] Ruiz, [Anthony] Joshua and Usyk but no agreement was reached.
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Boxing fans were quick to react to the WBC's revelation, with one saying: "Is it not literally your job to mandate him one?
"Nobody in the top 10/15 wanted a fight?"
Another said: "There’s no official challenger as you didn’t enforce the mandatory.
"If 1 and 2 wouldn’t fight could have gone to the next contenders in the rankings."
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And another said: "'There is no official challenger' -it's your job to find challengers
One remarked: "It’s the WBC’s job to give him a mandatory challenger, theres plenty of bodies ranked by yourselves."
Another chimed in: "A joke of an organisation."
Fury vs Ngannou will be a ten-round affair which will take place under traditional Queensberry boxing rules – although it's not been confirmed if the fight will go on both men's professional records.
Former unified heavyweight king Fury said: 'As soon as that bell goes, it’ll be bombs away!
"This guy is supposed to be the hardest puncher in the world, but let’s see how he reacts when he gets hit by the Big GK.
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"I can’t wait to get back out there under the lights. I’m looking forward to showing the world that The Gypsy King is the greatest fighter of his generation in an epic battle with another master of his craft.
"Francis looked tough when he jumped in the ring after the Whyte fight, but there is no one tougher than me, and you’ll all see that in devastating fashion on October 28."
Ngannou, 36, said: "I’ve been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years.
"My dream was always to box, and to box the best.
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"After becoming the undisputed MMA Heavyweight Champion, this is my opportunity to make that dream come true and cement my position as the baddest man on the planet…
"All I will say to Tyson for now is he better dance in that ring because if I touch him, he’s going to sleep.”
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