Francis Ngannou wants to prove he’s more than just a knockout artist when he boxes Tyson Fury.
Ngannou meets boxing champ Fury in a 10-round bout Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia. Although Fury’s WBC title won’t be on the line, it will be an official contest, with the result counting on the professional records of both men. The former UFC heavyweight champion hopes Fury isn’t underestimating him and vows he’ll pay a heavy price if he does.
“He has said a lot of things,” Ngannou told TMZ. “He better just get ready for Oct. 28 because if he’s not taking this seriously, I think he might get surprised and get some regret for his life. I’m coming for all. This is my moment, this is my life, and this is what I’ve been waiting for.
“The boxing dream I’ve been having since I was a kid, even long time before I discovered MMA, this is it: fighting the boxing champion, the belt might not be on the line, but he is the reigning champion, and this is the dream. So I’m coming for everything.”
Many are giving Ngannou only a puncher’s chance against unbeaten Fury and think it’s highly unlikely that it even happens. But Ngannou, who recently signed a deal with PFL, thrives in the position of silencing his doubters.
“I have some knockout power,” Ngannou said. “It will be crazy if you walk to somebody like Tyson Fury, just counting like, ‘Oh, I have knockout power.’ I’m going there to box. I’m walking into this fight as a boxer, and I’m impressed to see how people are counting me out of this. It also gets me excited. One more thing that they keep doubting on me, and as usual, I might keep proving them wrong.”
For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Fury vs. Ngannou.
