FRANCIS NGANNOU could fight Tyson Fury for world heavyweight title.
That's after the UFC legend's trainer claimed the WBC are set to rank the Cameroonian in the top 10.
Ngannou, 37, shocked fight fans in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night in a clash many felt Fury would comfortably win.
The MMA man dropped Fury in the third round and went the distance, with many believing he did enough to have his hand raised in the non-title fight.
And while the judges awarded Fury the victory by split decision, it took little away from just how impressed people were with Ngannou in his professional boxing debut.
After the fight, Ngannou confirmed he is set to continue boxing while also returning to MMA when he sees fit.
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And his trainer, Dewey Cooper, has revealed WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told him in the ring following the fight that Ngannou will now be ranked in their top 10.
Speaking to journalist Mike Bohn, he said: "Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, said he's gonna rank him [Ngannou] in the top 10 because he's better than most of the other heavyweights in the top 10.
"He said that in the ring. So absolutely, you'll see him again."
Ranking Ngannou in the WBC's top 15 makes him a valid voluntary challenger for Fury's belt.
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It also gives Fury another option when it comes to defending his title.
However, the most likely next fight for Fury is an undisputed clash against Oleksandr Usyk.
Unified heavyweight champion Usyk, 36, got in the ring and went face to face with Fury following his unconvincing win over Ngannou.
The pair then confirmed that their next fight will be against one another.
But Fury's promoter Frank Warren has since revealed the provisional date of December 23 is set to be pushed back to next year following Fury's tough night with Ngannou.
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