TYSON FURY VS FRANCIS NGANNOU OCTOBER 28 IN SAUDI; ARABIA; MIKE TYSON THINKS "IT'S GONNA BE TOUGH"
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Aug 2023
In a much-talked about fight, Britain's Heavyweight world champion "The Gypsy King" Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 24 KO's), will battle Cameroonian-French former UFC Heavyweight Champion "The Predator" Francis Zavier Ngannou (17-3 in UFC), on Saturday, October 28, in Riyadh City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Loved by many fans, hated by many more, the "cross-over" boxing fight of Tyson Fury vs Francis Nganou will go ahead as planned, set for October 28 in Saudi Arabia.
Will Fury easily outbox Francis, as most boxing fans think?
The latest rumble for the 34-year-old Tyson Fury was a one-sided round 10 TKO win over fellow Briton Derek Chisora in December of last year in Tottenham, England.
Meanwhile, Francis' last time trowing blows, elbows and kicks in the octagon was in January of last year in Ahaheim, California, against Interim UFC Heavyweight Champ Ciryl Gane of France.
That was Francis' UFC title defense headlining UFC 270, and even though he injured knee ligaments nearly one month before the fight, Francis did win by unanimous decision, the first decision win of his career.
Before that, all of Francis Ngannou's wins have been via KO or submission.
Against Tyson Fury will not be the same.
Without his elbows, kicks, knees and wrestling skills - only fists - could fans imagine that Francis Ngannou has any chance of claiming a win against a superbly talented master boxer as Tyson Fury?
Standing at 6 feet 9 inches, Fury, the reigning Lineal Heavyweight World Champion is a bit taller than the Cameroon-native. The Briton is nearly 270 lbs., with Francis always weighing not far from the 260, although the key factor is that Tyson Fury is far more-experienced and skilled in the sweet science of boxing.
In fact, this rumble in Saudi Arabia will be the very first time that Francis Ngannou fights in a real boxing match.
Most of his combats have been done for the UFC, the organization to which Ngannou fought for for over 7 years.
However, importantly, in order to get ready for "The Gypsy King" in October, Francis Ngannou has began training with none other than his life's idol: "Iron" Mike Tyson.
Mike thinks its gonna be a tough fight.
The former UNDISPUTED heavyweight champ Mike says to fans:
“Francis Ngannou has had many professional fights, but he’s never experienced a professional boxing match,” Tyson admits.
“But by working with Francis Ngannou, he has the aptitude, and I see a good future in his life.
"It’s not going to be as one-sided as people think it is.
"I was speaking with Francis once he came in, and I asked him ‘Are you sore today?’, and he said ‘No’.”
“Thinking that it will be an easy fight (for Fury) is a big mistake," continues "Iron Mike."
"(So), we’re going to work on physical and techniques, and we’re going to exert everything Francis has for this particular match.
"I definitely believe that it’s going to be a tougher fight than anyone thinks.”
The match - likely 12 rounds - is being organized by a group of matchmakers and promoters from Saudi Arabia and other places, including Vietnamese-Dutch Phucan An Nguyen of Dubai's People's Fighters, as well as Francis' management team and Tyson Fury's promoter, Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions.
As it is known, Tyson Fury is under a multi-year, multi-fight agreement with ESPN,, as well as Bob Arum of Top Rank and Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions.
Francis Ngannou, on the other hand, has signed a multi-fight deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), the American MMA league founded by Donn Davis.
So, the 36-year old Francis will be competing in the Professional Fighters League PPV in the "super fight division," but the popular African star fighter and philanthropist will still be free to compete in boxing.
And that is what he is doing.
In crossover fights of a boxer against a MMA fighter, fans do not seem to mind exhibitions. But where they are real boxing matches such as Floyd vs McGregor, or recently Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz, the boxer has shown to have the advantage.
But "Iron Mike" thinks that it will be "tough.
Will it be tough as "Iron Mike" predicts it will?
Or will it be a walk in the park for the fast, skilled, super smart and powerful Tyson Fury?
The author, boxing writer Carlos Costa, can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and whatsapp +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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