Tyson Fury Vs Francis Ngannou: UFC Legend’s Boxing Debut

Combat sport crossovers have become increasingly common over the years with prominent MMA fighters entering the ring and boxers trying their chances in the Octagon.

However, the upcoming brawl between former leading heavyweight of the UFC Francis Ngannou and unbeaten heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury promises to make serious waves in both the boxing and MMA scenes.

where will you be when history is made? @francis_ngannou

the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.@Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/5xp49izekc

— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) August 18, 2023

Battle of The Titans

Ngannou faces a huge uphill task against Fury – he’s about to stand toe-to-toe with the king of the ring, having switched his discipline and training to a combat sport substantially different from his own.

Unsurprisingly, the bookmakers and fans of the sport share a similar consensus. Fury’s offered as a comfortable -1000 favorite while Ngannou is priced at odds of +700, according to the outright markets at Nairabet.

Fury’s reputation precedes him. The Manchester-born boxer has overcome incredibly strong opponents in the past, including Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder (a whopping three times!), as we’ve discussed previously at Naijaloaded.

Maybe Ngannou will offer a fresh level of opposition for Fury, as he has the strongest punch on record. But Fury’s greatest strength is avoiding being struck by the heavy hitters – he’s survived the vast majority of his fights with little to no battle scars.

Fury remains unbeaten throughout his boxing career. It’d be a genuine sporting miracle and perhaps the greatest fairytale in combat sports history ever if a former UFC fighter were to topple an invincible boxer on his very first appearance in the ring.

If anyone but Ngannou was due to face Fury in the ring, following a career in the Octagon, then an upset victory wouldn’t even be considered. However, the French-Cameroonian fighter overcame remarkable hurdles to become the heavyweight champion of the UFC – he’s got an extraordinary knack for achieving the seemingly impossible.

Boxing Could Suit Ngannou’s Strengths

Ngannou set out to initially become a boxer and has trained for most of his combat career in the ring. He may have demonstrated a versatile range of skills in the

Octagon, but he certainly has the raw striking power to go head-to-head with any caliber of boxing opponent.

Throughout his time in MMA, Ngannou relied mostly on his strong punching. He regularly displayed an unprecedented knockout blow unlike anything seen before in the UFC. In addition, he ended a quarter of his 20 appearances in the Octagon by knockouts, which were caused by punches.

VIDEO: MMA star Ngannou trains with Mike Tyson ahead of Fury fight

Cameroonian-French fighter Francis Ngannou trains with heavyweight legend ‘Iron Mike’ Tyson in Las Vegas, a month ahead of his boxing bout with British heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury pic.twitter.com/vODf0B9dFd

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) September 27, 2023

Arguably, Ngannou’s strengths suit the boxing scene more so than the UFC. His unparalleled striking power means that he’s most dangerous when on his feet, and in boxing, there’s obviously no ground combat.

Ngannou’s debut boxing showdown against the great Tyson Fury is the ultimate baptism by fire. If Ngannou can merely last the entire contest and avoid an early stoppage, then it could be a sign that he has a future in the sport.

This October in Riyadh, Ngannou has the opportunity to cause one of the biggest upsets ever in combat sports against Fury.

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