Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will be going head-to-head in an epic crossover bout in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
‘The Gypsy King’ comes into the bout off the back of a 10th-round TKO victory against Derek Chisora last December.
Despite this weekend’s showdown with the former MMA star, the Englishman has recently signed a contract to set up an undisputed heavyweight championship fight with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
As for Ngannou, ‘The Predator’ will be making his boxing debut this weekend and has not fought since he was released from the UFC earlier this year. His last fight saw the heavyweight star defeat Ciryl Gane via decision at UFC 270.
But will Fury’s WBC heavyweight title be on the line this weekend in Saudi Arabia?
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will go head-to-head in Saudi Arabia this weekend
‘The Gypsy King’ comes into the fight off the back of a win against Derek Chisora back in December
Fury’s WBC heavyweight title will not be on the line in his 10-round showdown with ‘The Predator.’
Should the Englishman lose on Saturday night, the defeat will not count on his professional record.
Speaking to talkSPORT earlier this year, Fury’s promoter Frank Warren confirmed that his WBC title will not be on the line in Saudi Arabia.
‘There won’t be any belts on the line because the guy is not ranked, but we’re not selling it as that, it’s an event,’ said Warren.
‘We’re not saying he’s in the ratings and he won’t be in the ratings, it is what it is. It’s a crossover event between two guys from two different disciplines.’
While the title will not be up for grabs this weekend, the winner of the bout will be awarded with a special belt created especially for this fight.
Ahead of the fight, Fury pledged to knock out Ngannou inside six rounds. The Gypsy King said he will to leave his opponent in a ‘heap’, ‘swell his eyes out’ and boasted that nobody could take his power.
He told TNT Boxing: ‘I’m gonna knock him out inside six rounds. And shall I tell you how I’m going to do it?
Tyson Fury’s WBC heavyweight title will not be on the line in Saudi Arabia this weekend
Instead, the winner of the fight will be awarded a belt created just for this fight
‘Get on the front foot, high arm, sticking him with a punishing jab, 19, 20 stone in the face, boom, boom, boom, bust him up, swell his eyes out, and then feint, slip, bang! K.O.
‘On the front foot, not running away. On the front foot, hand-eye, let him hit the shoulder, slip, slip, bang, slip, slip, bang. Down in a heap.
‘Listen, no one can take my power. Nobody. These heavyweights don’t have a chance.’