Heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte is willing to face UFC banger Francis Ngannou in boxing and mixed martial arts.

The two boxers have been trading words in the press for the last few weeks.

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who works with Whyte, is going to explore the crossover contest with UFC President Dana White.

Whyte has no problem with a two-fight series.

He says Matchroom can handle the first bout, with UFC handling their MMA contest.

“I’m a fair guy,” Whyte said on Talk Sport's Fight Night. “I said ‘we can do a boxing fight and an MMA fight.’

“Obviously we would host the boxing fight and Dana can host the MMA fight. Then it is equal opportunity for both of us. Obviously Francis believes he has got the edge in MMA and I know I’ve got the edge in boxing so I was willing to step into his territory as long as he is willing to step into my territory unlike a lot of these other guys.

“Listen, a lot of people are just scared. I’m just not scared, man. I’m ready anytime, anywhere. A lot of guys say they will do this and do that, but they just want it to be on their terms and in favour to them. No! If I’m going to fight the guy like that, I’m going to give him a fair shot as well. I want to give him a chance at something he can win.

“I want to beat him at his own game as well, I don’t want to just control him at my game. I want to be able to knockout Francis in boxing and then give him a chance to have a shot in MMA and I will beat him in both. And no-one else in history has done that, so that’s what I am about – I always want to make history man.”

Whyte was a professional kickboxer and became a two-time British heavyweight champion by winning the BIKMA super heavyweight British title and the European K1 championship. He had a 20-1 record under K-1.

He also had a professional MMA bout, when he made his mixed martial arts debut for Ultimate Challenge MMA on December 6, 2008 - with a demolition of Mark Stroud in only 12 seconds into the first round.