Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in MMAJunkie.com.
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Francis Ngannou hoping to enter the world of boxing slowly if he can’t jump into the abyss immediately before someone like him Tyson’s Rage.
Now it doesn’t look like there will be a tuning war. Ngannou will fight Fury in Saudi Arabia on October 28. His manager, Marquel Martin, confirmed the fight against MMA Junkie on Tuesday following multiple reports, including one about GAME.
The fight has been talked about for more than a year, but in recent weeks it feels like a long shot. But Martin told MMA Junkie that his client was successful.
“It was all a fluke,” Martin told MMA Junkie via text message. “Hollywood couldn’t have written a better script. Moral of the story: Don’t bet against Francis.”
Ngannou tweeted the newsalso.
Never doubt a man who has hope and faith.#FuryNgannou | October 28, 2023 | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/44pfCQgGgq
– Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) July 11, 2023
“I’ve been waiting to see Tyson in the ring for the past three years,” Ngannou said in a news release published by ESPN. “My dream has always been to box, and box the best. After becoming the undisputed MMA heavyweight champion, this is my chance to make that dream come true and cement my status as the ugliest man on the planet.
“All I’m going to tell Tyson now is that he should dance in that ring because if I touch him, he’ll fall asleep.”
Ngannou vacated his heavyweight title after a contract dispute and left the UFC earlier this year as a free agent. In March, former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones claimed the vacant heavyweight belt against Ciryl Gane, and will defend it in November at UFC 295.
In May, Ngannou signed a groundbreaking deal with the PFL, which is expected to see him in the main event, pay-per-view style matches, and make him director. operator of the PFL, to boot – but also allow him the freedom to box.
Not long after signing with the PFL, Ngannou told DAZN that he dreamed of a fight with Fury, but the reality is that it may not happen.
“I’ve always dreamed of getting Tyson Fury, but he’s not available right now,” Ngannou said in May. “…My goal is to have a decent match this year – at least one before next year. That is the vision for boxing. My team has been into some discussions with Floyd’s Money Team promotion related to boxing, and we will look into that, but we will definitely come up with a plan and we coming up with something soon.
That plan turned out to be Fury’s after all. What is almost certain is that Ngannou and Fury are likely to do well financially. Fury recently said he expects Ngannou to make 10-50 times more money than UFC fighters. The irony is that UFC president Dana White was very critical of Ngannou when he left the promotion and said that Ngannou turned down a deal that would have made him the richest heavyweight in history.
In recent weeks, White has tried to stir up the conversation about Fury going against Jones, but Fury won’t be trapped for a cross-MMA fight. Now he has a boxing match against not only Jones’ opponent but also White and UFC’s opponent.
But the fight that was considered a long shot just a few weeks ago has now become a reality.
“As soon as that bell rings, the bomb goes away,” Fury said in the press release. “This guy is said to be the toughest puncher in the world, but let’s see how he reacts when he gets hit by Big GK. I can’t wait to get back there under the lights.
“I look forward to showing the world that ‘King Gypsy’ is the greatest boxer of his generation in an epic battle with another master of his craft. Francis looked tough as he jumped into the ring after the match [Dillian] Why fight, but there is no one more difficult than me.
