Tyson Fury has announced his upcoming clash with mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou. The highly anticipated boxing contest is scheduled to take place on October 28 in Saudi Arabia. However, Fury's WBC heavyweight title will not be on the line in this bout.
Fury's last fight was in December, where he defeated Derek Chisora in 10 rounds. Talks of an undisputed world title showdown against Oleksandr Usyk fell through earlier this year, leaving Fury eager to step back into the ring.
While Usyk prepares to defend his WBA, IBF, and WBO crowns against Fury's promotional stablemate Daniel Dubois next month, Fury will face an opponent with no professional boxing record. Ngannou has established himself as a fearsome puncher during his time as the UFC heavyweight champion, a title he held until his controversial departure from the company in January.
The idea of a crossover bout between Fury and Ngannou has been discussed for some time. Although Fury will not be defending his world title, his camp has emphasized that this will not be an exhibition match. The fight will have three ringside judges, and the scoring system used in professional boxing, known as the 10-point must system, will be implemented. However, the number of rounds scheduled for the fight remains unclear.
When, where is the fight and where will it be shown on TV in the UK?
The fight will take place on October 28th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The fight has been picked up by TNT Sports who have replaced BT Sport in the UK. The times are yet to be confirmed but it's expected to be around 10/11pm BST.
Tickets are yet to be released for the fight.
Fury expressed his confidence ahead of the fight, stating, "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. 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. There is no one tougher than me, and you'll all see that in devastating fashion on October 28."
Ngannou, who has won 17 out of his 20 MMA fights, signed a contract with the PFL, one of the UFC's rivals, in May. However, this does not prevent the Cameroonian-French fighter from pursuing a career in boxing. Ngannou, now 36, initially aspired to be a professional boxer but shifted his focus to MMA upon arriving in Europe in his mid-20s.
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"I've been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years," Ngannou revealed. "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."
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