Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather isn’t the only mixed martial artist vs. boxer bout being discussed.
When Jimi Manuwa brutally knocked out Corey Anderson in the main event of UFC London last month, everyone expected a few names to come out of his mouth – Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones, Anthony Johnson.
Nobody expected the utterance of “David Haye, let’s do this!”
"@mrdavidhaye lets do this"@POSTERBOYJM calls out the former heavyweight champ for a boxing showdown.🤔 #UFCLondon https://t.co/XYD6mHv0ui
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) March 18, 2017
The call-out came out of nowhere but it soon gathered legs as Manuwa explained how he wanted to find out who would come out on top in the all-London showdown.
An update arrived last week when Haye admitted that the UFC, as well as Manuwa’s management, had been in touch which suggested that the wheels were in motion. Were both parties to agree a date, it could well beat Conor McGregor’s proposed fight with Floyd Mayweather to the ring.
And Manuwa has since revealed that a one-on-one discussion between the fighters had taken place.
“I spoke to David personally last week,” Manuwa told SportsJOE. “We’re both set on the fight. We both want to make the fight happen.
Do you want to see @PosterboyJM fight the winner of @DC_MMA vs @Anthony_Rumble 2 at #UFC210? If not, who should Manuwa fight? pic.twitter.com/WNEet04NFG
— UFC (@ufc) March 20, 2017
“I just have to speak to the powers that be in the UFC and see what happens.
“There isn’t a timeline in place yet because it would be impossible to set a date with his injury. He suffered a bad injury in his last fight so it’s just going to be a conversation we revisit towards the end of the year when he’s able to return to training.
“But it will happen.”
Haye’s most recent bout, a grudge match with Tony Bellew, was ultimately decided by the Achilles injury from which he is currently recovering.
Initially it was believed that he may be forced into retirement but Haye insists that he intends to return to the ring.
And while Haye undergoes an arduous rehabilitation process, Manuwa is going to get busy trying to set up a run at the UFC light heavyweight title.
Sat at fourth in the UFC rankings, the Londoner has never been closer to a title shot and once he found out that 205lbs great Jon Jones would be in attendance at UFC 210, last weekend, when Cormier defeated challenger Anthony Johnson, Manuwa booked a flight.
“I wasn’t going to go to Buffalo for UFC 210 until I found out that Jon was going to be there,” Manuwa said.
“I couldn’t let him have that advantage of being there when the winner’s name is announced because straight away that would have made the commentators and everyone put his name at the top of the list… I intend to stir things up.”
Manuwa met with UFC president Dana White while in the States and he feels he is in a position of strength.
