Francis Ngannou rivalry with Tyson Fury continues
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou sends a stern warning to Tyson Fury at the final press conference ahead of his clash with Anthony Joshua.
The 37-year-old takes on the two-time heavyweight champion this Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but has been distracted by his former foe throughout fight week.
At a dinner party hosted by Turki Alalshikh – the man largely responsible for this fight going ahead – the pair butted heads in a war of words, with Ngannou going in for seconds at Wednesday’s presser.
On Queensberry Boxing’s live stream, Francis Ngannou said: “Your only chance is in the boxing ring, with boxing rules. When you step off of that ring you better stay five metres away because, if I lose it, you’re going to have a really bad time my friend.
“Respect the fact that the rules of boxing are protecting us because, without that, you are nothing in front of me.
“I beat you every day, twice on Sunday.”
The MMA giant faced WBC and lineal heavyweight champion Fury back in October last year, with the 10-round fight – also taking place in Riyadh – ending in a contentious split decision.
After shocking the world by dropping his vastly experienced opponent in the third round, Ngannou was baffled when he discovered that he had not won over the three ringside judges.
Now, he takes on two-time unified champion Joshua, who comes off a scintillating fifth-round stoppage victory over Otto Wallin in December which, once again, took place in Riyadh.
But Ngannou is seemingly already setting up a rematch with Fury, with the former UFC king wanting to avenge his sole defeat in professional boxing.
Fury, meanwhile, looks to become the undisputed heavyweight champion when he faces Oleksandr Usyk on May 18.
But the 35-year-old Morecombe Bay man will no doubt still be wanting to address any question marks around his undefeated record, with many people believing that he lost to Ngannou that night.