In the lead-up to their highly anticipated bout, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury shared his confidence in facing former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, drawing an interesting analogy. Fury compared the odds of Ngannou winning to those of a “table tennis champion” taking on Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final.
The Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou match, set to take place in Saudi Arabia, won’t be for Fury’s heavyweight belt. However, the outcome of this unique boxing contest is expected to become a part of the boxing record because it has been sanctioned by an official body.
During a weigh-in and conference leading up to the event, Fury made his stance clear, stating, “I’m gonna make it nice and short. [Ngannou offers] absolutely nothing. It’s like a table tennis champion facing Djokovic in a Wimbledon final.”
He emphasized that boxing isn’t just about two men brawling; it’s a gentleman’s sport and a sweet science. It’s about the fighter with the most ability to set up a knockout punch.
Fury’s comparison to Novak Djokovic, a tennis legend with 24 grand slam titles, highlights the idea that expertise in one sport doesn’t necessarily translate to success in another. While Djokovic’s tennis records are unmatched, and while table tennis is technically tennis the two have very little in common. Fury used this analogy to illustrate his belief in his own boxing prowess.
Both boxers weighed in for their showdown, with Fury tipping the scales at 277.7lbs and Ngannou at 272.1lbs. After facing Ngannou, Fury has committed to taking on Oleksandr Usyk. Ngannou’s departure from the UFC this year marked his transition to the PFL, where he’ll continue to make waves in the world of combat sports.