With absolutely no professional boxing footage to look back at and only a few short bursts of padwork to study, Tyson Fury has been casting his eye over Francis Ngannou’s MMA back catalogue for clues ahead of their pay-per-view ‘Battle of the Baddest’ showdown in Saudi Arabia.
The Lineal and WBC heavyweight champion has seen enough of the former UFC king to fancy his chances of sprawling and brawling his way to victory in the cage so he doesn’t sound overly concerned about the threat Ngannou will pose when he ducks between the ropes wearing a pair of 10oz gloves in October.
“I’ve seen a couple of Francis’ fights with Stipe [Miocic] and Cyril Gane and Derrick Lewis,” Fury told Dan Hardy at the fight’s launch press conference. “I watched a few. He’s a big strong old boy and if he hits you, he’ll hurt you. Just like Dillian Whyte, just like Dereck Chisora and just like everybody I’ve fought. They’re all big punchers.
“He’s getting 20 times his highest payday for this and if he beats me he secures his grandkids forever.”
Fury was extremely respectful towards Ngannou on Thursday, paying tribute to his achievements in the octagon and his heavy hands. Some may feel that Ngannou’s lack of pure experience and unorthodox technique may actually help him. Not Fury. He may admire his accomplishments in MMA but he doesn’t feel the Cameroonian has a better – or worse – chance than anybody else he has faced.
“I don’t think he can do anything to have a better chance but what he needs to work on is landing that one punch,” Fury said. “Like Deontay Wilder tried to and everybody else has tried to. They’ve always got a puncher’s chance. They’re big men aren’t they?
“If I went outside to a boozer and got in a brawl with someone, he’s going to hit me isn’t he? How are you going to have a fight with somebody and not get hit? It’s like having a shower and not getting wet. I know I’m fast but I can’t go into a fight and not get hit.”