Ngannou targets huge shockpublished at 22:06 British Summer Time 28 October 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesSo, what's going on here then?
After Tyson Fury gained a brutal stoppage win over Derek Chisora in December, everything seemed set for WBC champion Fury to take on the man holding the other heavyweight belts, Oleksandr Usyk, to find an undisputed champion.
But nothing is ever straight forward in boxing and a deal could not be sorted immediately so in July it was announced Fury would face MMA fighter Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou, 37, has no professional record in boxing.
Fury will not be defending his WBC title in the Riyadh bout, which will be held over 10 three-minute rounds and will count on Fury's professional record.
Ngannou said it was a dream come true to box Fury.
"I've been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years," he said. "All I will say is he better dance in that ring because if I touch him, he's going to sleep."
As long as he comes through this without injury, Fury is then expected to meet Usyk in Saudi Arabia, with a date of 23 December pencilled in and with all the world heavyweight gold on the line.
