In a press conference in Riyadh, the tension escalated between former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and boxing icon Tyson Fury.
The showdown between Ngannou and WBC’s top-ranked heavyweight contender Anthony Joshua will take place on March 8 at Kingdom Arena. Speaking on the mic, Ngannou said unequivocally that a rematch with Tyson Fury would be his first goal once he settles his business with Joshua.
Confident in his capabilities, Ngannou asserted: “He will be the best so far, but I’m just getting started. I’m looking for the victory on Friday, I don’t think it will be a statement because the road is still long. I want one more over Tyson, because I had the first one over him and I intend to have a second!”
Fury was present in the crowd and couldn’t resist shouting back at Ngannou. This sparked a heated exchange between the two.
The former UFC heavyweight champion exclaimed: “I’m going to wipe the ring with your a** again – there was blood in the ring! Your only chance is in the boxing ring with boxing rules, when you step out the ring you better stay five metres away because if I lose it, you’ll have a really bad time my friend.”
“Respect the fact boxing rules are protecting you, because you are nothing in front of me. I’ll beat you every day, twice on Sunday!”
Ngannou and Tyson Fury engaged in a 10-round boxing bouy in October 2023. It resulted in Fury securing victory through a controversial split decision. Despite the defeat, Ngannou’s commendable performance earned him praise from critics. The aftermath positioned him at No. 10 in the WBC heavyweight rankings, paving the way for the upcoming clash with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia.
Anthony Joshua boasts a 27-3 record with 24 victories by knockout. He enters the bout with a determination to redeem himself after back-to-back losses against Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua has bounced back with three consecutive victories over Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin.