Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou: Unclear if fight will count towards pro records

It remains unclear whether Tyson Fury's heavyweight fight against Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia will be a professional bout.

Fury, 35, fights in Riyadh on Saturday against former 37-year-old former UFC champion Ngannou, who is contesting his first-ever boxing match.

Fury's WBC heavyweight title will not be on the line.

The fight will reportedly take place in a separate ring and in an adjacent arena to the rest of the undercard.

BBC Sport contacted the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) - the UK governing body - which said "the show is under the BBBoC jurisdiction" but did not specify on Fury-Ngannou.

However, Fury says he has been told by BBBoC General Secretary Robert Smith it is a pro fight and will count towards records.

"Now it's a real fight. Robert told me yesterday that it's a real fight and goes on the record," Fury told IFL TV.

"I'm happy because... before it was going to be like a result on the night but not an official win or loss on the record. Now it makes things a bit tastier."

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Pundit Steve Bunce, speaking on the Radio 5 Live Boxing Podcast on Thursday, added: "All of the fights on the undercard - including the British heavyweight title fight between Fabio Wardley and David Adeleye - will be sanctioned by the BBBoC in an adjacent arena."

The fight between Fury and Ngannou serves as one of the headline shows of Saudi Arabia's 'Riyadh Season'.

The country has been criticised for using sport to sportwash their image, reportedly paying millions to bring Fury's bout with Ngannou to the region.

Two-time world champion Fury defeated Derek Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December to extend his unbeaten record to 33 wins and one draw.

French-Cameroonian Ngannou, 37, boasts an MMA record 17 wins in 20 fights.

The WBC confirmed to BBC Sport that Fury's "title is not on the line because Ngannou is not rated in the WBC".

In a statement, it added "the WBC has granted Fury the special permission to do this fight". The sanctioning body has created a commemorative 'Riyadh champion' belt for the winner.

Fury has also signed a deal to face fellow heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk- who holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts - in a historic undisputed fight in Riyadh.

The blockbuster bout has been mooted for 23 December and will crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.

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