Dillian Whyte claims Francis Ngannou "pleaded" with Dana White to scrap their proposed fight as he issued a fresh challenge to the UFC heavyweight champion.
WBC interim champion Whyte and mixed martial arts powerhouse Ngannou have talked up a fight in the past, with both seemingly keen on the crossover bout.
Whyte - who reclaimed his title with victory over Alexander Povetkin in March - went face to face with the Cameroonian last year in an interview which never aired.
Ngannou has since knocked out Stipe Miocic to clinch UFC gold, but Whyte says he was "terrified" when they faced off. "I’ve already beaten him outside the ring when we recorded a head-to-head last year," the Brit told Sky Sports . "He’s very fragile.
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