Later this year, the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, will be hosting a ground-breaking event as part of the Riyadh Season, featuring a clash between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou, the reigning titans of boxing and MMA, respectively.
The epic bout, set for Saturday, October 28, will determine the ultimate Lineal Heavyweight champion. You can follow all the updates on our Google News channel, available online and via the app.
The contest, which sees WBC champion Fury face former UFC champion Ngannou, will be governed by the official rules of boxing. Contrary to some rumors, this will not be a non-competitive exhibition match.
Ngannou, renowned as the world’s most potent puncher, will attempt to be the first fighter to halt the undefeated run of the Gypsy King. The gravity of this encounter is massive.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou left the UFC to pursue his first love, boxing. His name was linked to potential blockbuster bouts with Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, among others. However, his ultimate desire was to take on Tyson Fury, a dream that will come true during the Riyadh Season.
Ngannou, originally from Cameroon, was presented with multiple promotional offers, including one from Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, who publicly expressed his interest in bringing Ngannou on board during a 2023 interview with Fight Hub TV.
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In the interview, Hearn revealed, “I’ve spoken to Francis Ngannou and others, and they are all big names in the fight world. While it’s impossible to sign everyone, our goal is to assemble the strongest lineup possible for DAZN, and adding Ngannou, Nate Diaz, Edgar Berlanga, and Terence Crawford would be a massive coup for us.”
Hearn suggested that a fight with former unified heavyweight champion Joshua would be a distinct possibility if Ngannou were to join his roster. “A bout with Joshua in the summer would be a mega-event,” Hearn stated, adding that he holds Ngannou in high regard.
Now, Ngannou is set to participate in a spectacular mega-event in Saudi Arabia, where he will square off against the top Morecambe-based heavyweight boxer, Tyson Fury.