Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury shared a very tense exchange of words on Wednesday night, with the latter in attendance for the press conference ahead of the former’s clash with Anthony Joshua on Friday night.
Joshua and Ngannou will take centre stage later this week in Saudi Arabia as top-billing at an event nicknamed ‘Knockout Chaos’, with Joshua looking to build on an impressive showing last time out.
Ngannou also put on a show in his previous bout, taking Fury the distance in an exhibition encounter that many actually believed should have been scored in the Cameroonian’s favour.
The Gypsy King ran out the victor on points, and with a potential encounter with Joshua on the cards if he can defeat Ngannou he was in the thick of the action on Wednesday.
Ngannou took to the stage to talk about his preparation for his clash with Joshua, but despite shocking many critics against Fury, he claimed that there was still plenty to come from him.
Anthony Joshua (left) faces Francis Ngannou in a heavyweight clash on Friday night in Saudi Arabia
Ngannou and his fellow heavyweight exchanged words in a heated encounter on Wednesday night
‘Yeah, he will be the best so far, but as I said, I’m just getting started,’ the 37-year-old stated.
‘I’m really looking for the victory on Friday night, but I don’t think that will be making any statement of my career because the road is still long and I still intend to get a lot of victories like this one.’
However it was his next comments that seemed to provoke a reaction from Fury, who was in the crowd watching the conference.
‘One [a victory] over Tyson – one more over Tyson, because I had the first one [already]! I’ve got the first one, and I intend to get the second one.
‘I have been b****ing about it, but it’s true!
‘Fury: Get the job done and you’ll get another […] this time, but properly, d***er.’
‘I’m going to wipe the ring with your a** again, wipe the ring with your a**. They’re going to see blood in the ring.
‘I tell you, your only chance is in the boxing ring, with boxing rules. When you step off for that ring, you better stay five metres away before I stop your s***, because if I lose it, you’re gonna have a really bad time.
Ngannou knocked Fury to the canvas when they crossed paths but the fight was ultimately scored against him
Ngannou claimed that he had already beaten Fury despite the fight being scored in the Brit’s favour
‘Respect the fact that boxing s protecting you us and the rules of Boston is protecting us, because without that, we are nothing front of me.
‘No problem, any time,’ Fury retorted.
However Ngannou still had the last word, ending the exchange by claiming: ‘I will beat you every day – and twice on Sunday!’
Fury announced ahead of Friday’s fight that the winner of the clash would have the chance to take on either him or Oleksandr Usyk – one of whom will become the unified heavyweight champion of the world – but only after the pair have a re-match.