Why haven’t the WBC stripped him? Just another money grab, wasting his prime years. Those are some of the phrases used to describe Fury-Ngannou before their Riyadh showdown this weekend and as fight week begins, the outside noise will pale into insignificance once the two heavyweights from differing disciplines do battle after their loaded undercard on Saturday night.
Ngannou embracing underdog role, as you expect
Battle of the Baddest: Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou
10-round heavyweight crossover fight, WBC creating special belt for winner
Fabio Wardley (c) vs. David Adeleye for British HW title among undercard
Live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 28 — from 6pm BST
Nearly two full years following Francis Ngannou’s last Octagon appearance, fighting through a pre-existing injury that needed surgery after beating Ciryl Gane to retain UFC heavyweight gold, and several events which followed, he’s back this weekend.
It’s not yet as the star attraction of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he signed an exclusive multifight deal to feature in their pay-per-view superfight division, while being given freedom to compete in other disciplines such as boxing.
Instead, he gets what he always wanted but couldn’t agree when under the UFC banner and this week kicks off the second phase of his career.
Largely unmoved by the inevitable circus show that Tyson Fury attracts at their London press conference, the Cameroonian instead revealed his excitement at securing a rare opportunity no-one expected would bare fruit.
“I’m very excited and happy, had this dream since I was a kid – to become a boxer – not just going to box, but the guy at the mountain peak? Usually I wouldn’t pay attention but can’t stop thinking about it, that’s how big this is.
I’ll be hunting to take his head off, guarantee you that. If you’ve been watching my training, can’t go any bigger than [Mike Tyson] in my camp. People say he has the biggest punch but I really intend to make my punches useful, this is a big challenge and I’m working very hard to put myself in the best position.
Not many fighters – great as they were – didn’t have this opportunity in their lifetime, a fight of this magnitude, so sometimes I wake up in the night thinking I’m dreaming, but walk around and realise I’m not.”
Even when the pair did a cordial face-off in the Wembley night sky after Fury’s sixth-round knockout win over long-time mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte in April last year, critics were still unconvinced this crossover fight had any legs.
Who would watch, let alone pay for it?
Fury, after all, had a line of heavyweight contenders waiting to box him and a publicised three-fight plan many expected would eventually be completed.
Former two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was top of said list, while his latest conqueror Oleksandr Usyk has arrived on the scene too.
Fury’s retirement didn’t last long and this past week he’s again doubled down on staying in the sport for multiple years to come. It’s all he knows, so why walk away when he’s making tens of millions in the latter stages of his prime years now?
He finished a trilogy no-one wanted with friendly foe Derek Chisora, as Usyk and then-interim WBO titlist Joe Joyce watched ringside. But as we know and by the wording of that previous sentence alone, things change quickly.
The Usyk unification
Fury-Usyk unification talks were on, then off, and now reportedly been agreed for an unspecified date – Dec. 23 the rumoured frontrunner – depending on whether Fury gets injured or otherwise cut in what many believe will be a lucrative but uncompetitive showdown between two men better suited to other avenues.
Usyk defended his unified world titles against Daniel Dubois in August, while Fury – exhibition or not – won’t fight twice in two months. He hasn’t done so since 2009, an 8-0 rising star and English heavyweight champion at the time.
He told me about needing a few months’ recovery time after the Chisora squash match last December, having suffered bone spurs in training camp, so it meant a summer showdown with either Zhilei Zhang or former world titlist Andy Ruiz Jr seemed more likely after Usyk talks for April 29 broke down the previous month.
Wembley Stadium was reportedly reserved for July 15 and the 22nd but neither opponent materialised though, for different reasons.
That’s where we segue to last month’s main event on TNT Sports, a heavyweight rematch most didn’t expect but the division’s most intriguing contest in 2023.
Fury was pointedly effusive in his praise for Joyce ten months ago, but the Juggernaut‘s frailties have since been laid bare for all to see. Zhang hasn’t just seized his interim champion status or confidence, but also the privileges that came too.
Frank Warren signed Zhang after their first fight in April, and while a move criticised by purists, covers all bases from a business standpoint. Sure, it fans the flames for those suggesting Joyce was never truly appreciated in the stable – more like a gradual acceptance that Dubois still remains the Queensberry golden child.
That’s ignoring the ultimately unsuccessful appeal Warren lodged after his man left Wroclaw empty-handed in a world title fight shrouded by controversy and strong feelings of injustice. The point is, you can never be certain of what’s next.
Dubois vs. Joshua is a matchup they’re said to have interest in exploring between two hard-hitting punchers unlikely to go the distance, especially now the Deontay Wilder showdown appears on ice for the timebeing. Naturally, team Joshua would prefer a lower-risk option as he targets a third fight to round out 2023 in late December.
Yet it means Fury-Zhang can be made in future, and the 2008 Olympic silver medallist has a golden opportunity to fulfil more of those big nights he’s long craved.
As far as the heavyweight landscape is concerned, why would Fury not seek the biggest paydays for the least risk? Joyce serves as a real-time example of why the best don’t feel compelled to fight one another, unless the money’s right.
Whyte had the same problem a few years back, and it couldn’t have helped his punch resistance when that long overdue mandatory shot eventually came last April.
Ngannou’s punch power isn’t the issue, it’s moreso the fact the former UFC heavyweight champion has never boxed before – and is now making his debut in a different discipline on a surgically repaired knee against the division’s best mover.
Mike Tyson provides a nice touch, a fresh headline, but Francis will fight alone in that Saudi squared circle and will do well to make this seem remotely competitive.
Full card, is as follows
All fights are 10-round heavyweight contests unless stated, running order TBC
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou
12 rounds: Fabio Wardley (c) vs. David Adeleye
Carlos Takam vs. Martin Bakole
Joseph Parker vs. Simon Kean
Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Anthony Wright
Moses Itauma vs. Istvan Bernath
Light-middleweight: Jack McGann vs. Alcibiade Duran
Picture source: Getty Images, Ngannou quotes from presser
Mo and Sports 