Francis Ngannou hoped for a slow entry into the world of boxing if he couldn’t jump into the deep end straight away against someone like Tyson Fury.
Now it appears there won’t be a tune-up fight. Ngannou will box Fury in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 28. His manager, Marquel Martin, confirmed the fight to MMA Junkie on Tuesday following multiple reports, including ESPN.
The fight has been talked about for more than a year, but in recent weeks it was looking like a long shot. But Martin told MMA Junkie his client pulled it off.
“It’s all been a blessing,” Martin told MMA Junkie via text message. “Hollywood couldn’t write a better script. Moral of the story: Don’t bet against Francis.”
Ngannou tweeted the news, as well.
Never doubt a man with hope and faith.#FuryNgannou | 10.28.2023 | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/44pfCQgGgq
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) July 11, 2023
“I’ve been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years,” Ngannou said in a news release posted by ESPN. “My dream was always to box, and to box the best. 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. All I will say to Tyson for now is he better dance in that ring because if I touch him, he’s going to sleep.”
Ngannou vacated his heavyweight title after a contract dispute and left the UFC earlier this year as a free agent. In March, former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones won the vacant heavyweight belt against Ciryl Gane, and will defend it in November at UFC 295.
In May, Ngannou signed a groundbreaking deal with the PFL that is expected to see him in main event, pay-per-view level-type fights and made him a PFL executive, to boot – but also allows him the freedom to box.
Not long after he signed with the PFL, Ngannou told DAZN that he dreamed of a Fury fight, but was realistic to think it might not happen.
“I always dreamed of getting Tyson Fury, but he’s not quite available right now,” Ngannou said in May. “… My goal is to have a tune-up fight this year – at least one before next year. That’s the vision for boxing. My team engaged some discussion with Floyd’s Money Team promotion regarding boxing, and we’re going to see about that, but we’re definitely coming out with a plan, and we’re coming out with something very soon.”
That plan turned out to be Fury after all. What will be a near-certainty is Ngannou and Fury likely will do well financially. Fury recently said he expects Ngannou to make 10-50 times more money than UFC fighters. The irony of that is UFC president Dana White was highly critical of Ngannou when he left the promotion and said Ngannou turned down a deal that would’ve made him the richest heavyweight in history.
In recent weeks, White has tried to stir up talk about Fury against Jones, but Fury wouldn’t take the bait for a crossover MMA fight. Now he has a boxing match against not only a Jones rival, but a White and UFC rival now, as well.
But the fight that was considered a long shot just a few weeks ago now is a reality.
“As soon as that bell goes, it”ll be bombs away,” Fury said in the release. “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. I can’t wait to get back out there under the lights. I’m looking forward to showing the world that ‘The Gypsy King’ is the greatest fighter of his generation in an epic battle with another master of his craft. Francis looked tough when he jumped in the ring after the (Dillian) Whyte fight, but there is no one tougher than me.”
