Mike Tyson doesn’t envision an early night for the upcoming heavyweight curio between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury.
Indeed, the former heavyweight great has a feeling that the fight will resemble trench warfare, which is to say, drawn-out and laborious.
Tyson will be in Ngannou’s corner when the former UFC star makes his boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champion Fury in a 10-round bout Oct. 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ngannou, 36, parted ways with the UFC earlier this year and subsequently signed an MMA deal with PFL. The deal allows for Ngannou to participate in a boxing match.
Promoters for the “crossover” fight have stated that the fight will not be an exhibition but a legitimate boxing contest, with three judges. However, Fury will not be in any danger of losing his WBC belt to Ngannou, per an exemption from the sanctioning body.
“Well, listen, this is what we’re anticipating: We expect it to be a tough fight,” Tyson said on the BBC 5 Live Boxing Podcast. “We’re fighting an experienced, elusive champion, OK?
“Francis is picking up his endurance because this is what this fight is going to be about. It’s gonna be a war of attrition. We’re gonna keep Francis in good shape and constant punching because for this fight we’re gonna need constant activity. We’re working with Francis on that. As I said earlier, he has great aptitude. He learns real quick. I appreciate that and I think he’s really gonna do more than what you guys are anticipating.”
Despite a living legend backing him, Ngannou will be an overwhelming underdog against Manchester’s Fury, who is arguably the top heavyweight in the world. Fury, 34, owns two wins over feared puncher Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko.
Fury last fought in December, picking up a stoppage win over shopworn Derek Chisora at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Boxing fans were eagerly anticipating the undisputed heavyweight championship between Fury and WBO, WBA, IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk, but the two camps repeatedly failed to come to terms.
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.