UFC icon Francis Ngannou will go head-to-head in a boxing ring with WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on Saturday night.
The MMA legend is set to face off with the Gypsy King for a 10-round boxing match in Saudi Arabia.
It will be Ngannou’s professional debut in the sport, but he did previously train as a boxer prior to his exceptional MMA career.
The Cameroonian powerhouse has drafted in boxing great Mike Tyson to his camp – but is the Hall of Famer training the former UFC star?
Is Mike Tyson training Francis Ngannou for his fight against Tyson Fury?
Mike Tyson has insisted that he is NOT training Francis Ngannou for his epic showdown with Tyson Fury on Saturday night.
The boxing great is acting as a mentor to the MMA star ahead of the epic crossover bout.
Speaking to GQ, Tyson said: “I’m not a trainer. I’m a coach. A trainer can be bought by anybody. ‘Train this guy. Hey, train this guy,’.
“I’m a coach. I’m loyal to my guy. When he gets beat up, I feel the punches.
“When he’s hitting, knocking out a motherf***r, I feel the victory applause.”
Tyson’s team later explained he doesn’t have an official role in Ngannou’s camp, but said: “He’s been a mentor to Francis throughout the training process, popping in and out of training sessions as time permits for several weeks.”
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The boxing legend has regularly posted videos to Instagram of him helping Ngannou through his training camp.
What did Tyson Fury say about Mike Tyson being in Francis Ngannou’s corner?
Tyson Fury was named after boxing great Mike Tyson.
The Gypsy King was left fuming with the news his idol will be in the opposite corner against him.
Fury, 35, told Sky Sports: “I think that it’s sad, actually.
“The man that I am named after, a legend, has to go against me and then come out as a loser, having lost to a man who was named after him.
“I think that it’s sad and I think that he should be in my corner, not the opposing corner, but business is business and I understand that it’s strictly business.”
But in response, Tyson said to TNT Sports: “This is business, and he understands.”
When is Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou?
- Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou will take place on Saturday, October 28.
- The bout will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Expect ring-walks to get going from around 10pm UK time.
- The fight will be a 10-round professional fi,ght but Fury’s WBC belt will NOT be on the line.
- Exhibition rules will NOT be in place.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
