Unusual boxing match in Riyadh
Fury fights Tyson’s thugs for his face
October 28, 2023, 12:17 p.m
Mike Tyson is sure: If MMA star Francis Ngannou catches the jaw of boxing world champion Tyson Fury, then “he will knock him out. Nobody survives that.” The boxing legend prepared the outsider for the strange million-dollar fight in Saudi Arabia. Fury sees a much greater danger.
Tyson Fury knows what is at stake for him. “If I lose, I will never be able to show my face in public again,” said the heavyweight world champion ahead of the highly anticipated mega-fight against MMA star Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday (11 p.m./DAZN).
While the entire boxing world is eagerly awaiting the unification fight between Fury and the Ukrainian Alexander Usyk, the Brit would rather fight for a lot of money and the title of “Baddest Man on the Planet” in a show fight against a full contact athlete – and also has to fear the experience and expertise of Mike Tyson.
The boxing legend prepared UFC fighter Ngannou for the unusual fight, acting as a trainer and “psychological help” for the 37-year-old Franco-Cameroonian. “I don’t know if Fury is nervous, but he would have every reason to be,” said Tyson, who believes his protégé can pull off a surprise. Tyson is the youngest heavyweight world champion to date, winning the WBC title in 1986 as a 20-year-old.
Sporting value is manageable, financial value is huge
For Fury, who goes into the fight under conventional boxing rules as the heavy favorite, a defeat would be “a humiliation. I will be mocked and people will throw it in my face forever,” said Fury in 34 fights (33 wins, one draw ) still undefeated WBC champion. The 35-year-old has no fear, even if Ngannou’s punch is feared. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the cage fighter is the person with the hardest punch on earth. “If he lands a punch on Fury’s jaw, he will knock him out. Nobody survives that,” emphasized Mike Tyson.
The unusual encounter is not the first of its kind. In 1976, Muhammad Ali faced the wrestler Antonio Inoki, and an absurd spectacle was the result. In 2017, the duel between Floyd Mayweather and MMA icon Connor McGregor also took place according to conventional boxing rules – Mayweather won without any problems.
And Alexander Usyk? He thinks the whole thing is silly. “Isn’t it strange that instead of a top 10 guy he chooses someone who has never boxed before?” asked himself the WBA, WBO and IBF champion, who will probably die on December 23rd after a tough and lengthy fight Negotiations for the ultimate showdown against Fury will take place in the ring. The contracts are signed.
Then, unlike on Saturday, Fury’s world championship belt will also be at stake. The fight against Ngannou initially has no sporting value, it’s mainly about one thing: money. Fury is expected to cash in big for the event; there is talk of a stock exchange worth between $50 and $100 million. “Sometimes I look in the mirror and think that I am an absolute genius,” said Fury, who had not yet given a thought to the unification fight with Usyk: “I have to take care of this giant sausage (Ngannou) first “I’ve grilled it, then we move on to the next one.”