Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is reportedly set to face undefeated boxing champion Tyson Fury in a boxing match on Oct. 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou’s Desire to Box Led to UFC Departure
Ngannou’s desire to box was one of the tipping points that led to his historic departure from the UFC while holding the promotion’s heavyweight title. UFC officials were not supportive of allowing him to chase a payday in boxing while under contract.
Ngannou vs. Fury: A Matchup of Two of the Hardest Punchers in History
Ngannou (17-3 MMA) is generally regarded as one of the hardest punchers in MMA history. He captured the UFC heavyweight title in March 2021 with a brutal knockout of Stipe Miocic then defended his title once, taking a decision over Ciryl Gane despite fighting on a torn ACL. Eleven of Ngannou’s 12 UFC victories ended in stoppages, including highlight-reel knockouts of Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez, Curtis Blaydes (x2), and Junior dos Santos.
Fury (33-0-1) is the No. 1 ranked heavyweight in boxing and the WBC heavyweight champion. He holds notable wins over Deontay Wilder (x2), Wladimir Klitschko, Whyte, Derek Chisora (x3), and more.
It is not yet known if this fight will be an exhibition or not. However, the announcement of this fight is a major coup for both Ngannou and Fury, and it is sure to be a highly anticipated event.
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