Francis Ngannou: record, next fight and profile →
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is not concerned with Mike Tyson being the head trainer for Francis Ngannou. Ngannou tabbed Tyson, a former undisputed heavyweight champion, to train him for the upcoming non-title fight on October 28 in Saudi Arabia.
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson believes Francis Ngannou, a former UFC champion, will do better than many people expect when he takes on Tyson Fury.
Promoter Bob Arum, no stranger to ballyhoo, apparently thinks highly of the punching power of Francis Ngannou. Arum’s client, Tyson Fury, the WBC heavyweight titlist, will take on Ngannou in a heavyweight extravaganza (and Ngannou’s boxing debut) on Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia. The press conference for the crossover bout took place earlier this week in London.
Francis Ngannou offered four words when he was asked Thursday what will happen if he lands a flush punch on Tyson Fury next month. “Good night,” Ngannou replied during their press conference in London. “Lights off.” An unfazed Fury acknowledged that he won’t know until Ngannou lands a clean shot on him during their 10-round
As a young kid, Tyson Fury initially gravitated to the sport of boxing for a number of reasons. The freedom to punch someone in the face without getting in trouble, the artistry of it, and of course, those beautiful world titles.
IF ANYBODY DOUBTED the scale and gravity of the forthcoming cross-code heavyweight spectacular between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou then Thursday evening’s media event provided ample evidence of what to expect when the big men open up Riyadh Season on October 28.
Francis Ngannou interrupted Tyson Fury when Fury referred to himself as “a fighting world champion” during their press conference Thursday in London.
Tyson Fury had to laugh at the irony. The unbeaten two-time and reigning lineal heavyweight champion has taken great pride in his having been named after former undisputed champ Mike Tyson. So, it came as a bit of a shock when he learned that his next fight would come with the Hall of Fame legend working the corner of his opponent, former UFC heavyweight king and pro boxing debutant Francis Ngannou.
With absolutely no professional boxing footage to look back at and only a few short bursts of padwork to study, Tyson Fury has been casting his eye over Francis Ngannou’s MMA back catalogue for clues ahead of their pay-per-view ‘Battle of the Baddest’ showdown in Saudi Arabia.
It’s safe to say that Francis Ngannou is limited to a puncher’s chance—at best—in his upcoming crossover boxing match versus Tyson Fury. To his credit, the former UFC heavyweight champion has enhanced those odds by enlisting the services of one of the biggest punchers in boxing history—former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.