Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou First Look: Early Prediction, Tale of the Tape, & More
Tyson Fury, the current heavyweight boxing champion, and Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, are set to face off in a competitive 10-round boxing bout on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
It's worth noting that Fury will not be defending his WBC title in this particular fight. He comes into this bout following a commanding performance against Derek Chisora on December 3, 2022. Oppositely, Ngannou's last war was in January 2022, when he knocked out Ciryl Gane to retain the UFC heavyweight belt.
Worryingly, it’ll be his first-ever pro boxing bout, and although the contest will undoubtedly draw significant interest worldwide, can we expect him to defeat one of the best boxers on the planet?
Let’s take a first look at Fury vs. Ngannou, unravel the intricacies of each fighter, and give you our fight prediction.
Fury vs Ngannou: Tale of the Tape
Tyson Fury
- Wins: 33
- Lost: 0
- KOs: 24
- Drawn: 1
- Total Bouts: 34
- KO%: 71%
- Height: 6’9”
- Reach: 85”
- Stance: Orthodox
- Nationality: United Kingdom
Fury will have a significant height advantage over Ngannou in the fight, standing five inches taller than the Cameroonian at 6'9". The British boxer is also expected to be heavier, weighing around 270 pounds for his recent fights. On the other hand, Ngannou may come in at a similar weight, as he could not exceed the UFC heavyweight limit of 265 pounds in MMA. Additionally, Fury has a two-inch advantage in reach, measuring 85".
Known as "The Gypsy King," Fury remains undefeated in the ring and is widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight of the modern era. In his 20th professional fight, he captured his first major title, the British heavyweight belt, by defeating Derek Chisora in their rematch. One year later, Fury delivered a breakthrough performance by ending Wladimir Klitschko's unbeaten streak, which had lasted for over a decade.
Boxing critics heavily favour Fury defeating Ngannou, and rightfully so. We’re already seeing the best betting sites UK receive heavy wagering action on the “Gypsy King”, simply because it’s unfathomable that a debutant could ever match the in-ring skills and experience that the British legend possesses.
Francis Ngannou
- Wins: 0 (Boxing debut)
- Lost: 0
- KOs: 0
- Drawn: 0
- Total Bouts: 0
- KO%: %
- Height: 6’4”
- Reach: 83”
- Stance: Orthodox
- Nationality: Cameroon
Ngannou rarely faces opponents taller than him, except for his fight against Anthony Hamilton in 2016. However, this height disadvantage didn't matter much as Ngannou quickly defeated Hamilton in under two minutes, almost tearing his shoulder in the process. Standing at 6'4" with an 83" reach, Ngannou would be disadvantaged in both areas against Fury.
In 2015, Ngannou emerged as a relatively unknown heavyweight fighter with limited English proficiency. However, he quickly gained popularity due to his inspiring life story. Ngannou immigrated from Cameroon to Paris and overcame homelessness through combat sports. With his impressive physique and knockout power, Ngannou proved himself as a rising star in the heavyweight division, winning four fights within a year.
After conquering the UFC heavyweight division and collecting the gold, Ngannou tried to rework his UFC contract, but negotiations with the organisation failed to reach an agreement. To fulfil his contractual obligations, he defended his belt against former teammate Ciryl Gane in January, despite becoming a free agent at the end of the previous year.
The prospect of a lucrative boxing payday significantly influenced Ngannou's choice to part ways with the UFC. He found the opportunity to pursue this in the MMA promotion PFL, with whom he signed a contract in May.
Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou Fight Prediction
Both Fury and Ngannou possess remarkable fighting skills and unique talents, in their respective combat sports. However, as the reigning boxing champion, Fury holds a distinct advantage and should (fairly) effortlessly be able to demonstrate his supremacy over a formidable opponent with no prior experience in the realm of professional boxing.
In any contest, there exists the possibility of a knockout blow, especially at heavyweight, which represents Ngannou's sole glimmer of hope of inflicting harm upon Fury and securing victory. Should he achieve this, it would be an astonishing upset and an achievement of historic proportions. Ngannou wields devastating power in his fists, capable of incapacitating anyone who falls victim to his strike. Nevertheless, Fury has encountered this situation in the past and will not shy away from absorbing blows while relentlessly applying pressure to the powerful slugger.
Fury's superior head movement, footwork, counter-punching skills, and overall experience will be overwhelming for Ngannou. As the fight progresses, Fury will exert his dominance and seek to secure a victory. It is unlikely that either fighter will engage in a toe-to-toe battle until someone is knocked out. Ngannou's strategy should revolve around launching aggressive and unpredictable attacks in the early rounds, aiming to catch Fury off guard and secure an early finish.
Considering Fury's physical advantage in terms of size, he should utilise his height and weight, similar to his approach against Wilder in their trilogy fight. This involves forcing Ngannou to bear his weight during clinches against the ropes, ultimately leading to fatigue. As the fight progresses, Fury's superior endurance and experience will allow him to capitalise on this advantage, ultimately resulting in a TKO victory in the seventh round onwards.