Tyson Fury, ever the entertainer, ramped up the promotional antics ahead of his bout against Francis Ngannou next month. Addressing skeptics, Fury playfully commented that anyone, even the least expected, could knock him out with the right punch. Yet, when it comes to his match against former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou, “The Gypsy King” is far from taking things lightly.
The unbeaten WBC champion’s preparations for this 10-round exhibition, scheduled for October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, have been more rigorous than his prep for any of his title fights against the formidable Deontay Wilder. The reason? The stakes, in Fury’s eyes, are much higher. Losing to Ngannou, an MMA fighter rather than a seasoned boxer, would be more than just a personal defeat for Fury - it would be a reputational blow he might never recover from.
During a press conference in London, Fury emphasized the point, saying, “if I lose to an MMA guy, I’m never gonna be able to show me face in public again.” Ngannou, who has a professional MMA record of 17-3 and has delivered 12 knockout blows, is no pushover. His recent split from UFC after a winning streak adds an element of unpredictability to the bout.
FanDuel currently favors Fury with 13-1 odds for their pay-per-view headliner. Earlier this year, talks for a title unification fight with Oleksandr Usyk fell apart, which amplified criticisms when it was revealed Fury would face an MMA fighter, rather than a fellow boxer, for his only 2023 bout. However, Fury is clear about one thing: underestimating Ngannou’s power is a mistake he won’t make. Drawing parallels with Wilder’s impressive power, which saw Fury hit the mat in their previous encounters, Fury underscored his rigorous training for the crossover event. In a warning to all watching, he stated, “Whether the media wanna take it as a joke or whatever... make no mistake, Tyson Fury will leave zero stones unturned.”
Image Credit: Top Rank