Boxing fans have blasted the opening ceremony ahead of Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou’s ‘Battle of the Baddest’ clash in Saudi Arabia with some calling it ‘pure trash’.
Despite several fights having already taken place on the undercard, with Fabio Wardley retaining his British heavyweight title by stopping David Adeleye in round seven, the ring dropped below the stadium and a concert ensued.
The lights went out around the Boulevard Hall with Lil Baby and Becky G taking the stage surrounded by dancers.
Towards the end of the show, the ring slowly emerged from the floor, but boxing fans fumed as the ceremony dragged on, with some calling it ‘pure trash’.
One fan took to X (formerly Twitter) to slam the fight saying: ‘How long’s the opening ceremony for Fury vs Ngannou? Came for a scrap not a concert.’
Fans have slammed the opening ceremony ahead of Tyson Fury’s fight against Francis Ngannou
Many took to X (formerly Twitter) to lambast the pre-fight entertainment with one claiming it was ‘pure trash’
Fury was seen donning a crown and a cape on TNT Sports Box Office as he prepared to walk out to the ring
The ceremony went on, and several empty seats spotted in the crowd.
Another wrote: ‘I hope they never have an opening ceremony for a boxing match ever again.’
The performance went on for several minutes with fans in hot anticipation of the main event with viewers made to wait for the hotly anticipated main event.
‘Opening ceremony is going to end up being 10-times longer than the actual fight,’ one branded the opening ceremony a ‘joke’ before adding: ‘Get the fight on I’m nearly asleep!’
‘Imagine if Saudi Arabia hosted the Olympics. Their opening ceremony would be a madness,’ another said.
After the ceremony had ended, the fighters stepped out from their changing rooms with both fighters donning a crown before walking into the ring.
Some illustrious names from the world of sport were present for the crossover fight with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldo Nazario both present ringside.
Oleksandr Usyk, Fury’s next opponent was also spotted watching on from the crowd.
The hotly anticipated fight takes place in Saudi Arabia with the two coming head-to-head
Other fans scratched their heads at the ceremony with one claiming ‘it is going to end up being about 10 times longer than the fight’
Lil Baby and Becky G took to the stage as the concert started, with dancers and a light show accompanying the music
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The MMA star will step into the boxing ring for the first time in his career, but Fury’s WBC heavyweight belts will not be on the line for the bout.
Speaking to TNT Sports earlier this week, the Gypsy King said he was excited for the bout and admitted that he was going to smash Ngannou’s face in.
‘I’m like an Adonis in shape ready to smash someone’s face right in,’ Fury said during the build-up to the fight.
Asked whether he liked Ngannou he said: ‘Well he’s not the nicest guy in the world on the night, I’m going to chin him.’
‘We’re worst enemies for whatever it is 30 minutes – and then we can be best friends after that.’