Tyson Fury: Ngannou fight like Djokovic facing table tennis player at Wimbledon

Tyson Fury likened his boxing showdown against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou to Novak Djokovic taking on a table tennis player in the Wimbledon final.

Fury is the prohibitive favourite for the 10-round fight to be held under boxing rules although he will not be defending his WBC title while it is unclear whether this counts towards his professional record.

Unbeaten in 34 contests, with 33 wins and one draw, Fury scoffed at suggestions of a monumental upset in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ahead of taking on an opponent who has never before boxed professionally.

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO SLEEP.#FuryNgannou | https://t.co/2heUqaYy86 pic.twitter.com/LqfnU2dSey

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 27, 2023

“It’s like a tennis table champion facing Djokovic in the Wimbledon final – it’s totally different,” Fury said. “Let’s just say this, boxing is a gentleman’s sport, boxing is the sweet science.

“It’s not two men brawling in the middle of a ring, it’s not who is the biggest and strongest will win, it’s whoever’s got the most boxing skill.

“I’ll knock him spark out. We don’t get paid for long, I’m going to make it nice and short for him.”

Fury was 19st 11lbs on Friday, equalling how much he weighed for his trilogy bout against Deontay Wilder two years ago, but he kept his tracksuit, trainers and cap on when stepping on to the scales.

Ngannou is accustomed to having to weigh in at 18st 13lbs or under in the UFC but without any restrictions in boxing, he scaled 19st 6lbs while wearing white jeans, a shirt and trainers.

The fighters took off their tops for the customary staredown, with the 6ft 9in Fury leaning into and towering over the 6ft 4in Ngannou, who initially refused to meet his opponent’s gaze. But Ngannou