White would reportedly allow Manuwa to box Haye
Jimi Manuwa: “I spoke to David Haye today. I spoke to him last week when I was in Vegas with Dana White, and Dana liked the numbers.”
The biggest combat sports event in history may be Conor McGregor, the biggest pay per view television draw in MMA, in a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, the biggest PPV draw ever for anything. UFC president Dana White has said he would not stand between McGregor and a massive payday, and is negotiating the deal. Notorious may not be the only UFC fighter to get a lucrative boxing match.
In the main event of UFC Fight Night 107, Manuwa knocked out Corey Anderson in the first, and then had an unusual call out. Instead of a title fight or title eliminator, the #3 ranked light heavyweight said he wanted a boxing match with fellow Londoner David Haye. During a recent appearance on BJ Penn Radio , Manuwa explained why.
I just think it would be a great fight, said Manuwa to host Kinch, as transcribed by Tom Taylor forBJ Penn. He’s a big name in boxing. He wants to fight. He wants to fight me. It’d be a massive fight for London and a massive fight for sports as well, crossing over into boxing and knocking out one of their big names. That’s something I want to do and that’s why I called him out. He fights at the O2, I fought at the O2, and I think it would be a great event for the boxing and the MMA community.
I feel it would make a brilliant fight.”
I spoke to David Haye today [Wednesday]. I spoke to him last week when I was in Vegas with Dana, and Dana liked the numbers—what can be generated through this event. We’re planning on making it happen. David Haye is out and about walking, he’s back walking now after his injury. We’re doing everything we can to make it happen.
So would it be on the same card as MayGregor?
Possibly, said Manuwa. But we’re big enough to do our own card as well in London. It depends when the Conor – Floyd fight happens. If it’s in September I think that would be too early for David Haye. I think he’ll be ready November or December. So a September card would be too early for him. We’ll see what happens. We’ve got options.
I’ve got boxing all the time during my camp. I spar with some great boxers as well. I hold my own in there. Boxing’s a great sport. I love using my hands, as everyone knows.