Francis Ngannou interrupted Tyson Fury when Fury referred to himself as “a fighting world champion” during their press conference Thursday in London.
“[You’re a] world champion in boxing, in boxing,” Ngannou said. “Because in fighting, I think you are very limited, in general, just besides boxing.”
Fury, who will face Ngannou in a 10-round boxing exhibition October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, completely disagreed. The unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion claimed he would beat Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champ, in an MMA match as well.
“No, [in] fighting, because I think I can beat you in a cage,” Fury said. “I would kick your ass in a cage, no problem. One hundred percent. Hundred percent. Firstly, I’ll beat you in a boxing ring, and then I’ll kick your ass in a cage. Hundred percent. I’ll beat you, outbox you, and then I’ll beat you in a cage – no problem. No problem. No problem. [First] outbox him and I’ll beat him in a cage fight, no two ways about it.”
Cameroon’s Ngannou, 37, has a 17-3 record, including 12 knockouts, in MMA. He’ll box for the first time as a professional when he faces Fury in their pay-per-view showdown. England’s Fury is 33-0-1, including 24 knockouts, in boxing, but the 35-year-old Manchester native has no MMA experience.
The ever-confident Fury still believes he would knock out Ngannou if they were to square off in MMA. He explained how he would beat Ngannou in Ngannou’s sport during an interview with TNT Sports before their press conference began.
“I don’t think he can take me to the floor,” Fury told former two-division champion Carl Frampton. “I just don’t. I seriously don’t think he can beat me in an MMA fight. Honestly, I don’t. I think I catch him on the way in with an uppercut and just use me takedown defense, push him down. Bang! Bang! Bang! Grab him, knee, bang! Elbow, bang! Game over. Smashed to pieces.”
There is no evidence that Fury would seriously consider an MMA match with Ngannou, but Fury feels he would easily execute the perfect defense if Ngannou tried to take him down.
“Honestly, if he’s gonna go for me legs, yeah,” Fury said, “I’m just gonna throw me legs back, sprawl, and I’m gonna chin him. Bang! Bang! Bang! He’s gonna be severely damaged. And with little gloves on, I don’t even have to catch him properly. I just have to tap him with a little knuckle shot, [and] it’s game over. Legs will do a break dance, like Michael Flatley, all over the ring.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.