With less than 24 hours until the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou card gets underway in Riyadh, multiple boxing personnel – from boxers on the card to promoters and invested spectators – spoke with me for exclusive interviews over the course of Friday’s festivities, from the afternoon weigh-in to an evening gala dinner hours later. Click below to see what they said, on multiple topics.
Usyk raring to go for December unification clash
- 36-year-old tells me he only took a week out of the gym after R9 TKO victory over Daniel Dubois in late August, so a relatively quick turnaround is feasible as he’s stayed in shape. Former undisputed cruiserweight king wants to finish his career with much less inactivity between fights
- Should the date be confirmed as December 23, it’ll mark the first time since 2018 that the Ukrainian has boxed twice in four months – unifying at 200lbs against Murat Gassiev, before retiring Tony Bellew in that stint. Tyson Fury beat Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin the year afterwards
- Clarifies controversy about whether he needed 14 weeks to be ready, saying there was an issue with translation in other interview: “I was asked a question, how long is my usual training camp… can you imagine how tired I would be after a 14-week camp? Missing my family, my children… I’m ready, have been working to this point for almost 20 years.”
Battle of the Baddest: Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou
Fury weighs career-heaviest 277.75lbs, Ngannou five pounds lighter at 272
Fabio Wardley (c) vs. David Adeleye for British heavyweight title on undercard
Live from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 28 — from 6pm BST
Main event ringwalks expected after 10.30pm BST
The plan is, all being well, Tyson Fury will dance rings around Francis Ngannou to a commanding victory – either decision or stoppage – after which unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will enter the ring and December 23 bout date finalised.
An undisputed heavyweight world title fight for the first time this century.
It feels fitting that Fury’s compatriot, Lennox Lewis, is among the highly-esteemed boxing royalty in attendance this week seeing as the Brit was the last man to do so: beating Evander Holyfield via UD12 in 1999. A welcome end to a disruptive year in the sport’s glamour division, one can only hope we’re not left disappointed again.
Usyk was in good spirits after flying in on Friday and naturally swatted away questions such as whether he had any nerves, for he’s not the one boxing a fearsome puncher – making his debut in the discipline or not – while declaring he’s already in Fury’s head as the mind games continued at the gala dinner.
Now, it’s respectfully cordial between them. As we saw glimpses of last December at the post-fight presser when Fury beat old foe Derek Chisora, that won’t last.
Krassyuk: Usyk talk, Berinchyk’s future and Sheeraz praise
- Additional words on Usyk before Fury bout: “This is the biggest fight of his career, how else can he come but at his best? This is what he’s been working for, so many years. He became undisputed at cruiserweight then moved up, isn’t fighting for money but for legacy, heritage, fame and glory.”
- On what’s next for 18-0 lightweight Denys Berinchyk: “I’ve attended the WBO convention in Punta Cana, we’ve had very long discussions regarding this… with the help of God, he’ll box for the world title next.”
- After dismantling one of Krassyuk’s active stable in Dmytro Mytrofanov, what are his thoughts on Hamzah Sheeraz? “Hamzah is, absolutely, the next world champion at middleweight. I can’t say revolutionary because it’ll sound too expressive but he’ll be up there for a very long time.”
- Krassyuk picks Martin Bakole (19-1, 14 KOs) to be the next world heavyweight champion after Usyk and Fury retire, adding the caveat that the 30-year-old needs to stay active, train well and be disciplined for that to happen. Boxes Carlos Takam on the undercard
Usyk echoed what his promoter, Alex Krassyuk, told me a few hours earlier – the Fury fight is one he’s worked towards for several years, and although the prospective opponent wasn’t clear until recently, achieving undisputed status at heavyweight was. It’s why he moved up after dominating the cruiserweight landscape.
Elsewhere on Krassyuk’s stable:
Denys Berinchyk, who earned a UD12 win over Anthony Yigit on the Usyk-Dubois undercard on August 26, has held the WBO’s International title and defended it eight times since beating Rosekie Cristobal for the then-vacant strap in Dec. 2018.
Still only ranked #3 by the sanctioning body, time is of the essence for the 35-year-old as undisputed world champion Devin Haney looks to succeed up a weight division at light-welter against Regis Prograis on December 9.
The current picture, as it stands, at lightweight
Shakur Stevenson vs. Edwin de Los Santos for WBC lightweight title, Nov. 16
Isaac Cruz is #1 mandatory challenger for Haney’s WBA title, Gervonta Davis the “Regular” champion
#1 spot with IBF unclear after George Kambosos Jr’s consecutive defeats
Berinchyk (#9 IBF, #13 WBC) is ranked third behind Stevenson and Vasiliy Lomachenko with WBO
When asked to assess the rest of the heavyweight division, from Zhilei Zhang and Filip Hrgovic to unbeaten young talents Jared Anderson (16-0) and Justis Huni (7-0), Krassyuk didn’t hesitate to namecheck Martin Bakole above all else.
“He is the right man to talk about. If he stays active – trains well, is disciplined – he’ll be the next champion after Usyk retires.”
Amid the sparring stories with Dubois and Usyk, we’ll get another look at what Bakole is truly made of tonight when he faces former world title challenger Carlos Takam, who upset Olympic champion Tony Yoka back in March.
Other tidbits
- British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley says media obligations and events aplenty have been a lot to take in the build-up to his David Adeleye title defence, but he’s used to being on big shows and has managed his time effectively with the help of his team. “I was always happy to take this fight, training and staying ready but just waiting to see whether they [the BBBofC] were going to mandate it or I’d have to get another fight.”
- Ngannou’s head coach, Eric Nicksick: “Francis has been here since October 8, the climate and training hasn’t been too dissimilar to Las Vegas, only difference is we know we’ll be fighting around 1am so he does strength-and-conditioning at 10, then boxing-specific work afterwards.”
- On the former UFC heavyweight champion regaining that confidence mentally, rather than physically, after knee surgery: “He had to do rehab, had some of the scar tissue left over in the knee… we were fortunate that he carried over into boxing first [rather than make his PFL debut], he was able to get into good shape, get the full camp without having to wrestle or kick.”
- WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack hopeful for December return date, says it’s looking likely they will box for the Bridgerweight title (200-225lbs) next against Lukasz Rozanski – if not then, first quarter of 2024
- Assessing the cruiserweight division, he says: “Jai Opetaia is the best. I saw his last fight, was very impressed by his boxing skills, footwork and overall movement. He’s the most skilful guy. I don’t really know none of them so don’t pay attention really – even Opetaia – he’s had two big fights but isn’t a big name. I turn 40 on Tuesday, fought the world’s best for over 10 years now and that’s how it should stay.”
- Unified light-heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev likens Fury-Ngannou to Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor in 2017 and believes the bout will have the same outcome. Says the Fury-Usyk winner will be decided by whoever prepares the best out of the pair… while confirming he’s back in training camp again for Callum Smith title defence in January after dental surgery sidelined him for 2-3 months
- On who will be the next world HW champion after Usyk and Fury, Frank Warren: “It’ll be interesting. Let’s see how Adeleye comes through, Moses [Itauma] too but of course I would say them, they’re with me!” Also rates Jared Anderson highly but believes the long-term future will be in the UK
- Two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after announcing he’s taking a break: “The way people… man, I was getting so many messages, tagged in things. I’m not dead or retiring guys, calm down.” Will he be back sometime in 2024? He hesitates, then says “see you in 2027!”
- Amir Khan on life post-retirement from the sport: “I’m really enjoying it because it means I can enjoy life, do what I want, meet new people whereas I’d be busy training or boxing somewhere else. I’ve had a great career.”
- Khan also namechecks unbeaten light-welterweight Adam Azim as the standout British talent right now, while saying he’d rather open boxing gyms and academies while giving advice and guidance free of charge rather than become a coach or trainer as it’d take up too much of his time
Saturday’s 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 for British, Commonwealth, WBO European heavyweight titles
Carlos Takam vs. Martin Bakole
Joseph Parker vs. Simon Kean for vacant IBF, WBO intercontinental heavyweight belts
Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Anthony Wright for North American Boxing Federation, WBA intercontinental titles
6 rounds: Moses Itauma vs. Istvan Bernath
Light-middleweight, 8 rounds: Jack McGann vs. Alcibiade Duran
Pictures, quotes all procured by me unless stated otherwise
Mo and Sports 