WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on 28 October in a bout under professional boxing rules, the fight’s promoters said on Tuesday.
The announcement did not specify the contracted number of rounds for the bout, but confirmed it will take place in a regulation boxing ring with three ringside judges using the 10-point must system.
Fury was scheduled to face Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, the IBF, IBO, WBO and WBA champion, in a unification fight to determine the first undisputed champion in boxing’s bellwether division in more than two decades but negotiations fell through in March.
The 34-year-old Fury has not fought since retaining his WBC title with a 10th-round stoppage of fellow Briton Derek Chisora in December and will be putting his undefeated streak on the line.
“This guy is supposed to be the hardest puncher in the world, but let’s see how he reacts when he gets hit by the Big GK (Gypsy King). I can’t wait to get back out there under the lights,” Fury said in a statement.
Ngannou was stripped of his heavyweight belt after a contract dispute with UFC and exited as a free agent in January. He had also been talking about a crossover bout with Fury after the Briton beat Dillian Whyte in April last year.
“I’ve been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years. My dream was always to box, and to box the best,” Ngannou said.
“After becoming the undisputed MMA heavyweight champion, this is my opportunity to make that dream come true and cement my position as the baddest man on the planet.”
Ngannou has a 17-3 record in mixed martial arts with 12 knockouts. After making a contentious split with the UFC, while still the heavyweight champion of the sport’s leading promotion, the 36-year-old signed with the Professional Fighters League in May.
“This heavyweight clash has ‘war’ written all over it,” said Frank Warren, who co-promotes Fury. “Tyson is at his best when he is breaking new boundaries and this event is one of a kind. History will be made in Riyadh with a battle of the giants from the two leading codes of combat fighting.”
