Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou will be recorded as official professional bout despite non-title status

Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou's highly anticipated crossover super-fight will officially be recorded as a professional bout, despite the world heavyweight title not being at stake for either fighter.

Officials from the WBC have confirmed that although their belt won't be on the line, the fight will be officially recognised. In a statement released this week, it was confirmed that the clash will adhere to full boxing rules, with judges present and a definitive outcome as reported by The Mirror.

"The clash to determine who is the 'Baddest Man on the Planet' will take place under the official rules of professional boxing, with three judges adopting the 10-point must system," read a press release on Tuesday. The mega-fight, expected to be one of the richest in history, will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's largest city, inside a standard boxing ring.

Ngannou has been eager to face Fury for several years but was previously restricted by a tight UFC contract until the beginning of 2023. Now free from those constraints, he has relinquished the heavyweight belt. However, he still holds the title of lineal champion, making his claim to the throne more legitimate than that of Jon Jones, the current belt holder.

Ngannou expressed his excitement, stating, "I've been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years. My dream was always to box and to face the best. After becoming the undisputed MMA Heavyweight Champion, this is my opportunity to make that dream come true and solidify my position as the baddest man on the planet. I'd like to thank Riyadh Season and my team at 3Point0 Labs for helping organise this event. All I will say to Tyson for now is that he better be prepared because if I touch him, he's going to