While Tyson Fury, the reigning WBC and lineal heavyweight champion, and Francis Ngannou, a fearsome former UFC champion, both bring distinctive journeys and talents into the ring, it’s the shared anticipation of a unique spectacle that has the sporting world abuzz.
As the fight night draws near, it promises much more than titles or paydays; it’s a collision of worlds, a chance for reputation, and a celebration of what happens when champions from different arenas cross paths. Whether it’s Fury’s legacy as a heavyweight kingpin or Ngannou’s quest to conquer a new realm, the “Battle of the Baddest” is a testament to the transcendent appeal of combat sports.
Fury has not fought since last December when he retained his WBC heavyweight title, and there is still no date for his planned clash with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk. In the meantime, he will face Ngannou, a former UFC champion making his boxing debut.
Ngannou left the UFC in January, relinquishing the promotion’s heavyweight title in the process. He will make his debut with the Professional Fighters League in 2024, but first, he ventures into boxing for the biggest payday of his career.
The fight will be a heavyweight boxing match, with no MMA rules involved. It is scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds, with the victor decided on points or via knockout/TKO.
What’s On the Line in Fury vs Ngannou?
It is important to note that Fury’s WBC heavyweight title will not be on the line in Fury vs Ngannou bout, as it is a boxing match with no MMA rules involved.
However, several other aspects are equally important, such as:
Prestige
Both Fury and Ngannou are considered among the best heavyweight fighters in the world, so a win would significantly boost their reputations.
Money
The fight is expected to generate substantial pay-per-view revenue, so both fighters are set to earn a significant payday. According to Fury, Ngannou is set to earn $10 million for the fight, while Derek Chisora claims that Fury himself will make $50 million, although this figure is believed not to include sponsorships.
Future Opportunities
A win could lead to even bigger fights for both fighters. For example, if Fury wins, he could potentially face unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for all the belts. If Ngannou wins, he could establish himself as the best heavyweight boxer in the world.
Overall, the Fury vs Ngannou fight is a high-stakes event with much at stake for both fighters.
Fury vs Ngannou Final Press Conference
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou held a final press conference on Thursday ahead of their “Battle of the Baddest” on Saturday. Fury appeared out of shape, with concerns about his fitness and conditioning as Ngannou easily pushed him during their face-off.
“I’m happy,” Fury said. “I’m getting paid, and that’s it. What is there not to be happy about? I’m getting paid for doing something I love and getting paid to keep fit and out of trouble. So, it ain’t too shabby.”
Fury has lost over 100 lbs in camp and looks considerably thinner than before, but he is still not in ideal shape, and his midsection is bulkier than ever. It’s unclear how Fury’s physical condition will affect him on Saturday. He has relied on his mauling style in recent fights, but Ngannou is a much more powerful fighter than anyone Fury has faced before.
Despite his concerns, Fury remains confident of victory, believing that his boxing skills will be too much for Ngannou, who is making his boxing debut. Ngannou is also confident but knows he will need to be at his best to defeat Fury.
“This guy is supposed to be the hardest puncher in the world, but let’s see how he reacts when he gets hit by the big GK,” Fury said. “I’m looking forward to showing that the ‘Gypsy King’ is the greatest fighter of his generation. It’s gonna be a fight for the ages.”
Fury, with a record of 33-0-1 and 24 knockouts, boasts an impressive career highlighted by his ongoing WBC heavyweight championship. His most recent fight was in London last year, where he defeated his long-time rival, Derek Chisora.
On the other hand, Ngannou is also fully confident in securing a win, conquering the boxing world, just as he has in the MMA arena.
“My dream was always to box, and to box the best,” Ngannou said. “After becoming the undisputed MMA heavyweight champion, this is my opportunity to make that dream come true and cement my position as the baddest man on the planet.”
The fight is expected to be a huge spectacle and one of the biggest fights of the year. It remains to be seen who will emerge victorious, but it is sure to be an exciting and thrilling event.
Fury vs Ngannou Fight Card
Here are all the fights on Francis Ngannou vs Tyson Fury fight card that you can watch on Saturday’s show from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:
- Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou (Main Event)
- Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye (heavyweight)
- Joseph Parker vs Simon Kean (heavyweight)
- Carlos Takam vs Martin Bakole (heavyweight)
- Arslanbek Makhumodov vs Antonio Wright (Heavyweight)
- Moises Itauma vs Istvan Bernath (heavyweight)
- Jack McGann vs Alcibiade Duran (super welterweight)
Now, let’s dig a little further in why people are so excited about this showdown, considering it one of the greatest fights of all time.
Who is Tyson Fury?
Tyson Fury, also known as “The Gypsy King,” hails from Wythenshawe, Manchester, England, and was born on August 12, 1988. He launched his professional boxing career at the age of 20 on December 6, 2008. Fury is a reigning heavyweight world champion.
With over 13 years of professional boxing experience, Tyson Fury boasts an impressive record. He has stepped into the ring 34 times, securing 33 victories, experiencing no losses, and settling for a single draw. As of October 2023, Fury’s undefeated record stands at 33-0-1, featuring 24 knockout wins. His most recent bout was a 10th round TKO victory against Derek Chisora on December 3, 2022.
Total fights: 34
Wins: 33
Wins by KO: 24
Losses: 0
Draws: 1
Among Tyson Fury’s notable wins are triumphs over boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko, Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, Sefer Seferi, Tom Schwarz, Derek Chisora, and Christian Hammer. His professional debut occurred against Béla Gyöngyösi at the age of 20 on December 6, 2008, resulting in a 1st round TKO win. Fury continued this winning streak with 26 consecutive victories, 18 of which were knockout wins.
At the age of 27, Tyson Fury had his first world title fight on November 28, 2015, after 24 professional bouts. He faced Wladimir Klitschko for the heavyweight WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring titles and secured the championship with a 12th round unanimous decision victory.
Fury stands as a one-time unified heavyweight world champion and has clinched six world titles in the heavyweight division, further underlining his prowess in the ring. Notably, Tyson Fury has never faced defeat in his professional boxing career.
His most recent contest was a heavyweight title defence against fellow British boxer Derek Chisora on December 3, 2022. Fury won the fight via a 10th round TKO, successfully defending his WBC title. It has been 10 months and 24 days since this fight.
Tyson Fury’s Career Highlights
Throughout his career, Tyson Fury has entered the ring 34 times, engaging in 6 world-title bouts within the heavyweight division. As one of the leading boxers of his era, he has showcased remarkable performances in several memorable fights. Here are eight key moments from his career:
November 29, 2014: Tyson Fury delivered his breakthrough performance, securing a 10th round RTD victory over Derek Chisora.
February 28, 2015: In a match against Christian Hammer, Fury triumphed with an 8th round RTD.
November 28, 2015: Fury’s ascent continued as he unified the heavyweight world championship. His first world-title bout resulted in a 12th round unanimous decision victory over Wladimir Klitschko, earning him the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles.
June 9, 2018: Fury’s dominance continued when he bested Sefer Seferi, finishing the fight via a 4th round RTD.
June 15, 2019: Tyson Fury showcased his skills once more, achieving a 2nd round TKO against Tom Schwarz.
February 22, 2020: Fury’s legacy expanded as he claimed the WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles, defeating Deontay Wilder with a 7th round TKO.
October 9, 2021: In a thrilling encounter, Fury successfully defended his WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles against Deontay Wilder, culminating in an 11th round KO victory.
April 23, 2022: Continuing his reign, Fury defended the WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles, dispatching Dillian Whyte with a 6th round TKO.
Who is Francis Ngannou?
Francis Ngannou, known as “The Predator,” was born in Batié, Cameroon, on September 5, 1986. He ventured into mixed martial arts at the age of 27 on November 30, 2013.
With over eight years of professional MMA experience, Francis Ngannou has engaged in 20 bouts against 18 different opponents, securing 17 wins and enduring three losses. Among these wins, he recorded 12 knockouts, four submissions, and the remaining by decision. Notably, Ngannou has never suffered a loss via finish, with all his defeats coming through decision outcomes.
Total fights: 20
Wins: 17
Wins by KO: 12
Losses: 3
Draws: 0
He commenced his mixed martial arts journey at the age of 27 on November 30, 2013, with a victory via 1st round submission against Rachid Benzina. Ngannou made his UFC debut on December 19, 2015, at the event UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2, where he triumphed over Luis Henrique with a 2nd round KO. During his UFC tenure, Ngannou has participated in 14 fights, earning 12 wins and encountering two losses, with 10 victories achieved through knockouts.
At the age of 31, Francis Ngannou vied for the UFC heavyweight title on January 20, 2018, after 12 professional bouts. In this title bout, he faced Stipe Miocic but succumbed to a 5-round unanimous decision loss.
Ngannou’s impressive victories include notable names such as Stipe Miocic, Junior dos Santos, Curtis Blaydes, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Anthony Hamilton, Ciryl Gane, and Alistair Overeem. He has tasted defeat three times in his career.
Francis Ngannou’s last fight was a heavyweight title defense against French MMA fighter Ciryl Gane on January 22, 2022. In this bout, Ngannou secured a 5-round unanimous decision victory, successfully defending his UFC title.
Francis Ngannou Career Highlights
Throughout his career, Francis Ngannou has taken the Octagon by storm in 20 impressive bouts. Here are the standout performances from his journey:
December 19, 2015: At UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cowboy 2, a 29-year-old Francis Ngannou made a memorable UFC debut, securing a 2nd round KO victory against Luis Henrique.
December 9, 2016: During UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov, the 30-year-old Francis Ngannou delivered an exceptional 1st round submission win over Anthony Hamilton, earning the performance of the night bonus.
December 2, 2017: At UFC 218, a 31-year-old Ngannou displayed his power with a 1st round KO victory over Alistair Overeem.
January 20, 2018: In a historic title-fight at UFC 220, the 31-year-old Francis Ngannou faced Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight championship but fell short, losing via a 5-round unanimous decision.
November 24, 2018: During UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2, the 32-year-old Ngannou secured another memorable win with a 1st round TKO against Curtis Blaydes, earning the performance of the night bonus.
June 29, 2019: At UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos, the 32-year-old Ngannou claimed victory with a 1st round TKO over Junior dos Santos, once again earning the performance of the night bonus.
May 9, 2020: In an explosive encounter at UFC 249, the 33-year-old Francis Ngannou recorded a 1st round KO against Jairzinho Rozenstruik, adding another performance of the night bonus to his accolades.
March 27, 2021: A momentous achievement occurred at UFC 260, as the 34-year-old Francis Ngannou became the UFC heavyweight champion, delivering a 2nd round KO against Stipe Miocic.
January 22, 2022: During UFC 270, the 35-year-old Ngannou successfully defended his UFC heavyweight title by winning a 5-round unanimous decision against Ciryl Gane.
Conclusion
The battle lines are drawn, and the stories are etched in the annals of their respective careers. Will Fury’s seasoned boxing prowess withstand the raw power of Ngannou’s fists? Or will Ngannou adapt to a new discipline and seize the moment in the grandeur of the ring? One thing is certain: Francis Ngannou vs Tyson Fury fight, devoid of any preconceived notions, embodies the pure essence of combat sports, where the unscripted narratives of passion, skill, and determination converge.
As the world watches and holds its collective breath, the Fury vs Ngannou showdown stands as a testament to the universal allure of two fighters who dare to dream and dare to be the best. It’s not just a fight for titles or paychecks; it’s a fight for the ages, a fight for legacy, and a fight for the love of the sport that unites us all.
