Tyson Fury’s upcoming opponent for his ring return is not Oleksandr Usyk, which came as a surprise for many. Instead, Fury will be facing former UFC champ Francis Ngannou. Usyk recently shared his thoughts on Fury taking on an MMA heavyweight.
Previously, Usyk and Fury were engaged in negotiations for their highly anticipated heavyweight showdown, initially planned for the first quarter of 2023.
Oleksandr Usyk rips Tyson Fury
In his latest interview, the Ukrainian boxer criticized the British heavyweight for selecting an opponent who is making his professional boxing debut to face him. Usyk expressed his disappointment and disapproval regarding Fury’s choice of an inexperienced boxer to compete against him.
“This is a great opportunity for Francis Ngannou. For Tyson Fury, it’s definitely not. Doesn’t it seem strange that instead of choosing a top 10 guy, he is choosing someone who never boxed before?” Usyk said.
.@Usykaa thinks The Gypsy King is scared to unify 😳 pic.twitter.com/djTVVi78mY
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) July 16, 2023
The fight between “The Cat” and “The Gipsy King,” which was scheduled for April 29, had to be postponed due to various technical and negotiation difficulties. This delay seems to have intensified the rivalry between the two heavyweight fighters, resulting in a series of verbal exchanges.
Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou bout overview
After months of speculation, the rumors surrounding a potential fight between ‘The Predator’ and ‘The Gypsy King’ have finally materialized. Last week, the World Boxing Council (WBC) granted special permission to Fury, allowing him to engage in a boxing match against Ngannou.
The Baddest Man On The Planet 👑
What will be done in the kingdom will echo around the world 🥊 🇸🇦 @francis_ngannou #GameChanger #RiyadhSeason #FuryNgnannou pic.twitter.com/z6Ruk40YsZ
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) July 11, 2023
Multiple boxing promotions and reputable news outlets have confirmed this development. Ngannou’s promotional banner along with Top Rank, all seem to have reached an agreement to collaborate with Riyadh Season for hosting the event.
Mauricio Sulaimán, the President of WBC, has officially stated that he granted Fury “special permission” to participate in a non-title fight since the British boxer does not currently have any mandatory challengers lined up.
The highly anticipated clash between Fury and Francis is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 28. According to the latest verified information, the fight will adhere to professional boxing rules.
Are you ready @francis_ngannou!? #BADDESTMANONTHEPLANET #RIYADHSEASON pic.twitter.com/D0B3IxFkR7
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) July 11, 2023
Do you still look forward to a Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk bout in the future? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
