Tyson Fury lays down gauntlet to Francis Ngannou ahead of Riyadh ‘Battle of the Baddest’ bout

LONDON: WBC boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury claimed on Thursday he could beat ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou in any code of fighting as the two faced off in London at a press conference promoting their “Battle of the Baddest” bout in Riyadh on October 28.

British boxer Fury, who will fight MMA lineal heavyweight top dog Ngannou in the Saudi capital to launch this year’s Riyadh Season, was in bullish mood and predicting an easy victory, adding that he would “100 percent” beat the French-Cameroonian at his own game as well.

The contest will take place under official rules of professional boxing, with three judges ringside adopting the standard “10-point must” system.

Speaking to media at the event, Fury said: “I’d like to fight (him) in the cage, I think I can beat him for sure. He’s not a good wrestler, he’s known for striking and I’m a better striker than him. In little gloves, I’d knock him out in seconds.”

Ngannou was focusing only on the upcoming fight, though, saying making his professional debut as a boxer was a dream come true.

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— Arab News | Sport (@ArabNewsSport) September 7, 2023

“I've had the dream of being a boxer since I was a kid, not just to box but to box the guy at the top of the mountain. This thing is so big, I can't stop thinking about it,” he said.

“This is history about to be made, it’s something I didn't see coming, even though my dream was there, I didn't see it being one of the biggest events in the world. 

“Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen but what I know for sure is I'll be out there hunting for this guy's head