Legendary pugilist ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson believes Francis Ngannou’s key to success against the taller Tyson Fury will be to stay aggressive and push the pace.
On Saturday, October 28, fight fans will finally be treated to the return of Francis Ngannou as ‘The Predator’ is scheduled to make his professional boxing debut in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. Standing across from the Cameroonian will be none other than WBC heavyweight world boxing champion, Tyson Fury.
In the weeks leading up to their highly anticipated clash, Ngannou has been spotted in multiple training videos working alongside former undisputed heavyweight titleholder Mike Tyson. With the bout mere hours away, Tyson is now in Saudi Arabia to corner Ngannou and offered some additional advice to the ex-UFC champ ahead of fight night.
“Be aggressive. Come forward. In this particular fight, he’s the small guy even though he weighs more,” Tyson said in an interview with TheMACLife. “As far as height, he’s the small guy so he’s going to have to be aggressive. He can punch through the body and he doesn’t even need to stand up.”
Asked if he thinks whether or not Ngannou could be at all rattled by the spectacle of the event or some last-minute mind games by ‘The Gypsy King’ during the weigh-ins, Tyson said:
“I don’t think so. He’s very polite and very composed all the time. He’s very sophisticated and respectful. He’s a different kind of fighter I’ve never experienced before.”
‼️ Tyson Fury’s father John Fury in an entertaining exchange with Mike Tyson and Francis Ngannou at the final press conference face-off ahead of Saturday night…
[🎥 @Queensberry] pic.twitter.com/AVjMvPevTA
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) October 26, 2023
Mike Tyson Comments on a Potential Fight with John Fury
While Mike Tyson will be in the corner of Francis Ngannou, Tyson Fury will have his father, John Fury in his. Leading up to Saturday’s showdown in the Middle East, the elder Fury has been critical of Mike Tyson’s role in the build-up, suggesting the iconic boxer is a traitor to his sport by coaching a UFC fighter.
As a result, John Fury has expressed an interest in strapping on the eight-ounce gloves for a clash with the man he named his son after.
“I don’t do that stuff no more,” Mike Tyson said when asked about a potential exhibition bout with John Fury. “I only fight for money. Everybody wants me to fight an exhibition. Everybody. Hey, listen… If the price is right.”
Fury vs. Ngannou will air live on ESPN+ pay-per-view with the main card kicking off at 2 p.m. ET. The main event ring walks are tentatively scheduled to begin at 5:40 p.m. ET.
Watch the full interview below:
