Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou is a done deal (Pictures: Getty)
Tyson Fury and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will fight in Saudi Arabia this October under professional boxing rules.
The current WBC heavyweight champion has been linked with a bout against the former champion mixed martial artist for months and Ngannou will make his professional boxing debut against the toughest of opponents.
Ngannou was the UFC heavyweight champion when his contract with the company came to an end in December and the parties could not agree on a new deal.
He has since signed with the Professional Fighters League to continue his MMA career, but that contract allows him to box professionally as well.
The 36-year-old has made the most of that agreement, securing a fight with the 34-0-1 heavyweight champion of the world, set for Riyadh on 28 October.
Fury is promising fireworks in the fight which has been brewing since Ngannou appeared in the ring after the Gypsy King beat Dillian Whyte in April 2022.
‘As soon as that bell goes, it’ll be bombs away!’ Fury said. ‘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.
‘I can’t wait to get back out there under the lights. I’m looking forward to showing the world that The Gypsy King is the greatest fighter of his generation in an epic battle with another master of his craft.
‘Francis looked tough when he jumped in the ring after the Whyte fight, but there is no one tougher than me, and you’ll all see that in devastating fashion on October 28.
‘I’d like to thank my promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum, my manager Spencer Brown and the guys at Riyadh Season for making this incredible event possible. It’s going to be a fight for the ages. Get up!’
The move will not please everyone, with Fury still not able to make a fight against the likes of Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua, and former world champion Carl Froch is certainly not a fan.
‘It’s another crossover fight – load of rubbish,’ Froch told Bettingsites.co.uk.
‘Absolute load of s–t. I don’t like swearing, but it’s a load of s–t. We don’t want to see that fight. We want to see Tyson Fury in there with Usyk.’
MORE : Anthony Joshua calls out Tyson Fury ‘lies’ before intense Dillian Whyte face-off
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The Gypsy King will battle The Predator.
