British heavyweight contender Dave Allen has called on Tyson Fury to be stripped of his titles for agreeing to fight former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in October.
The Gypsy King currently holds the WBC belt and remain recognised as the lineal champion following his win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
Fury had, until recently, been expected to face off against Ukrainian star Oleksandr Usyk.
However, after demanding a 70-30 split of the prize money, the deal broke down.
Francis Ngannou is set to battle Tyson Fury for boxing supremacy
Fury also set deadlines for his opponent to accept and Usyk, not one to be pushed around, ended up snubbing the opportunity to enter the ring.
Since then, it's emerged that Fury has accepted the challenge of fighting Ngannou.
And though Allen is friends with the 34-year-old, he's now called on the Gyspy King to be stripped of his existing titles.
When asked for his verdict on recent developments by Seconds Out, he said: "I am disappointed, to be honest.
"I'm probably going to pay to watch it because its intriguing. The same way I paid to watch Jake Paul-Tommy Fury, intrigue, curiosity.
"But I've known Tyson a very long time, we've been mates for a long time.
"I understand it, the money's great. He's going to get paid tens of millions [to fight] a fella who's never boxed before. Great business for him.
"I understand why he's doing it but I don't like it.
"And he probably should be stripped of his titles because he's not defended it since Chisora (in December 2022).
"It will be 18 months by the time he boxes again. If he wants to do these exhibitions then go and do them, I'm happy for him, earn your money.
"But if you're not going to defend the belt, give these other fighters a chance that want to fight."
Fury's camp have defended his decision.
Promoter Frank Warren insisted he attempted to find different boxers to battle Fury but no deals could be reached.
Allen thinks, however, that Fury's camp are wrong and they could easily have negotiated for a superior opponent instead.
"He could have boxed (Arslanbek) Makhmudov, could have boxed (Filip) Hrgovic," he said.
"The only thing bothering me about the situation is they're saying that there's no one for him to box.
"I could name you 30 fighters that he could box, and I could reel (off to) you 60 or 70 that I'd rather see than Ngannou. The only fight that counts right now is Fury-Usyk."
Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the fight scheduled for October 28, Olympian Frazer Clarke warned Fury about the consequences of a potential defeat.
"I wish him all the best and for God’s sake, don’t let Ngannou land a shot on your chin and put you to sleep because that would be catastrophic," he said.
"We all know he can punch and if you are fit and you can punch in heavyweight boxing, you have as good a chance as anyone because if you land that shot, it can be goodnight.
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Tyson Fury is poised to fight Francis Ngannou in October
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"There has been lots of talk about levels in the sport and what level he it at having never done it professionally.
"But he probably has more of a shot than a non-puncher at British level.”