Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has lastly obtained the big-money bout he has been trying to find — however will it’s a case of ‘watch out what you want for?’
It was confirmed on Tuesday that Ngannou will tackle Tyson Fury in an officially-sanctioned heavyweight boxing match in Saudi Arabia on October 28, in a bout which ought to go an extended option to figuring out the true proprietor of the time period ‘the baddest man on the planet’. Maybe unsurprisingly, the fighters — each world champions of their respective fields — are in assured kind forward of the cross-codes matchup, which is ready to be one of many 12 months’s greatest pay-per-view field workplace bonanzas.
“This man is meant to be the toughest puncher on the planet, however let’s see how he reacts when he will get hit by the Massive GK,” Fury stated after the bout’s affirmation, referencing his ‘Gypsy King’ nickname.
Ngannou, in the meantime, stated that his struggle in opposition to the WBC heavyweight champion will signify the end result of a long-held ambition to check himself in opposition to the game’s greatest names.
“I’ve been ready to fulfill Tyson within the ring for the previous three years,” Ngannou stated. “All I’ll say to Tyson for now could be he higher dance in that ring as a result of if I contact him, he’s going to sleep.”
The struggle, which is able to happen underneath normal boxing guidelines and with three ringside judges, is not going to be an exhibition — however nor will it’s to contest Fury’s world title, after the WBC granted him particular dispensation to compete within the bout provided that there isn’t a necessary challenger in place. Fury had been linked to a winner-takes-all unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk however phrases couldn’t be agreed with the Ukrainian fighter’s staff.
The October bout will signify Ngannou’s skilled boxing debut. He’s anticipated to compete in his first MMA struggle for the Skilled Fighters League (PFL), with whom he signed a contract earlier this 12 months, a while in 2024.
