- WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury faces former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a 10-round boxing match.
- Tyson Fury is the heavy betting favorite at -1600.
- Francis Ngannou is the overwhelming betting underdog at +800.
The baddest man on the planet will be determined this Saturday, Oct. 28, inside the Boulevard Hall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as reigning WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury welcomes former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou inside the boxing ring for a 10-round fight.
Time to see who really is the baddest 😤
Welcome to #FuryNgannou Fight Week! pic.twitter.com/cawDykKMkk
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 23, 2023
Because of his boxing credentials, Fury is the apparent heavy favorite in the boxing odds at -1600 against Ngannou, who is the overwhelming betting underdog at +800, as this will be his boxing debut. The Cameroonian fighter has bet on himself by not renewing his UFC contract in 2022 and becoming a free agent.
This is the first crossover of an MMA superstar to boxing since Conor McGregor fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. in August 2017, as “The Predator” wants to achieve something the “Notorious” failed to accomplish – beat a boxing world champion in his sport. Meanwhile, “The Gypsy King” wants to prove he is the baddest man on the planet.
Tyson Fury Recent Fight Results
Fury has been a professional boxer since December 2008 and collected multiple national boxing titles like the BBBofC British heavyweight title, Commonwealth Boxing Council heavyweight title, Boxing Union of Ireland Irish heavyweight title, and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title. Due to these accomplishments, he earned his shot for the lineal world heavyweight title in May 2015.
The British boxing superstar scored a massive upset of Wladimir Klitschko to win the IBF, IBO, WBA, and WBO world titles. But following that career-defining victory, he went on a three-year sabbatical. Fury made a triumphant return in 2018 and has racked up a record of eight wins, no losses, and one draw, regaining the WBC heavyweight title.
.@Tyson_Fury is really HIM 🌟#FuryNgannou | SAT 2PM ET | ESPN+ PPV pic.twitter.com/4uwrjo4U9O
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 23, 2023
Francis Ngannou Recent Fight Results
Ngannou started his MMA professional career in November 2013 and went 5-1 before the UFC signed him in December 2015. “The Predator” picked up six quick victories since his promotional debut to earn a UFC title shot against Stipe Miocic in January 2018. He fell short, as Miocic beat him unanimously.
Since that championship setback, the Xtreme Couture representative scored six victories in his next seven fights, including his revenge victory over Miocic in their world title rematch in March 2021 to become the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. Ngannou last fought inside the Octagon in January 2022 and defeated Ciryl Gane before becoming a free agent.
Every drop of sweat shed today is an investment for tomorrow, the suffering endured today is the joy of tomorrow. What goes around comes around.
It’s FIGHT WEEK‼️#FuryNgannou pic.twitter.com/2FvfRYguLz
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) October 23, 2023
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou: Tale of the Tape
| Fury | Ngannou | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 35 | 37 |
| Height | 6’9” | 6’4” |
| Reach | 85 inches | 83 inches |
| Record | 33-0 | 0-0 (17-3 in MMA) |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| TKO/KO Percentage | 73% | 0% (71% in MMA) |
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou: Fight Analysis
On paper, Fury will have the advantage physically, as he towers over Ngannou with a 5-inch height advantage and an upper hand of 2 inches in reach. Since this is Ngannou’s boxing debut, I’ll use his MMA record as a reference for his record and finishing rate. Both “The Gypsy King” and “The Predator” have an almost identical TKO/KO percentage of 73% and 71%, respectively.
This showdown between Fury and Ngannou is something we’ve seen before. It mimics the showdown of McGregor and Mayweather Jr., with Ngannou being the heavy puncher and Fury playing the role of the real boxer, although both heavyweights pack an enormous amount of power on their punches.
The man who will have the significant adjustment will be the former UFC champion because he is only allowed to throw punches.. Ngannou is used to MMA customs, where he can throw powerful kicks and grapple with his opponents.
The British boxing superstar will have a massive edge against Ngannou because he is a natural boxer, and he has already fought a similar boxer in Deontay Wilder, who also has tremendous power. Fury defeated Wilder twice in their three matches, where he endured and survived his power punches.
For Ngannou, it is crucial for him to go all-out in the first three or four rounds because that is his only window to get a victory when his power and cardio are still at their peak. His stamina will be questioned once the fight crosses beyond five rounds because he is used to competing in three five-minute rounds in the UFC.
On the other hand, Fury is expected to gas out Ngannou in the opening phase of the fight with his elite footwork and speed to avoid any threat of being hit by a powerful punch. Once he knows he is exhausted, he can start exploiting this and firing his quick and lethal combinations that could end Ngannou in the latter rounds.
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou: Date and Start Time
Oct. 28, 2023, 10:00 a.m. PT
Oct. 28, 2023, 12:00 p.m. CT
Oct. 28, 2023, 1:00 p.m. ET
Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou: Fight Prediction
Official Prediction: TKO/KO victory for Tyson Fury.
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