In his highly anticipated fight against heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, mixed martial arts star Francis Ngannou gets celebrity support.
Tyson Fury gets former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou celebrity support in his ring corner.
Boxing legend Mike Tyson will be at the 36-year-old’s side for the exhibition bout spectacle in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 28 October. “I look forward to working with Ngannou and supporting his transition from the Octagon to the boxing ring,” Tyson said in a statement.
Fury vs. Ngannou: “Boxing IQ” of Mike Tyson should help
According to Fury’s management, the fight will take place exclusively under the rules of professional boxing. Other elements of full-contact MMA such as kicking, wrestling or ground fighting are excluded. “His experience and boxing IQ will be important to refine my technique under his guidance and win this super fight,” Ngannou said of Tyson’s support.
Fury’s WBC belt will not be at stake in the show bout. The Brit last stood in the ring in early December 2022, against compatriot Dereck Chisora, the “Gipsy King” defended his world title belt in London. Negotiations about a unification fight against the Ukrainian Alexander Usyk failed recently.
Ngannou made it to the world’s elite in just three years after entering MMA. The Franco-Cameroonian built a reputation with the UFC as a feared knockout punch and rose to champion – but then fell out with promoter Dana White, the crux of the matter being low pay compared to boxing stars.
