Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou: Kamaru Usman backs former UFC champ to pull off biggest upset in boxing history
Tyson Fury is the greatest heavyweight boxer of his generation. But the Gypsy King has been warned his next rival, UFC champ Francis Ngannou, might be his biggest threat yet.
Boxing/MMA
Don't miss out on the headlines from Boxing/MMA. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Kamaru Usman has warned that his good mate and fellow former UFC champion Francis Ngannou is primed to cause one of the biggest upsets in boxing history when he fights Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
One of most fearsome knockouts artists the UFC’s heavyweight division has ever seen, Ngannou makes his first foray into the boxing ring against WBC world champion Fury.
He will have Mike Tyson in his corner for what is essentially a high stakes exhibition bout, but has been written off by almost every pundit and boxing insider on the planet.
So much so, that Fury is already lining up a blockbuster unification bout against WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in December.
BOXING: Fury v Ngannou SUN 29th OCT 4AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
One of the greatest UFC welterweights ever, Usman acknowledges that the odds are stacked against Ngannou, but says Tyson won’t have it all his own way.
“I feel that (he’s being written off) too,” Usman told this masthead.
“Being honest, if it’s just a typical boxing match, yeah of course you have the experience advantage of a world champion who’s arguably the greatest heavyweight we’ve ever seen.
“To have that size and be able to move that way is incredible. (Fury) is arguably the best ever.
“Rightfully so people are writing Francis off.
“But Francis possesses something that’s just different. He can touch you with either hand and you’ll be waking up next week asking what happened.”
Nicknamed ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’, Usman was part of history when he held the UFC welterweight title alongside Ngannou and Nigerian-born Kiwi Israel Adesanya.
Ngannou vacated his title and left the company after contract negotiations with the UFC turned sour, but Usman says he’s still inspired by his “big brother” every day.
“All three of us were blessed to be in a time where we can achieve such great heights and be in monumental fights were the whole world stops and says, ‘That’s what I want to watch, that’s what I want to do today’,” he said.
“To be able to have moments like that … just think of how many people go through life and never experience anything like that.
“We’ve had it countless times over the years, and we’re enjoying the moment and time we’re in.”
Usman had another of those moments last weekend when he stepped in on 11 days’ notice to fight Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.
Usman accepted the fight while out shopping at Target, and he nearly pulled off a massive upset of his own.
He’ll be one of a few select people to have Ngannou’s ear this week as ‘The Predator’ prepares to take down the Gypsy King.
“We talked last night, and he’ll call me again today,” Usman said. “Francis is my brother, so we talk all the time.
“I’ve seen him in this camp, I’ve seen him spar a couple of times and I know he’s prepared.
“He takes it so serious.
“Most people aren’t thinking that way, but he takes it so seriously, and I don’t there a doubt in his mind that he’ll win.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou: Kamaru Usman backs former UFC champ to pull off biggest upset in boxing history
UFC 312: Volk teammate promises to get revenge on Topuria
Colby Thicknesse was listening to Triple J’s Hottest 100 countdown when he received a message that changed his life. Now the Wollongong fighter has vowed to get revenge.
‘No’: World reacts to next Jake Paul fight
Brothers Jake and Logan Paul have teased an upcoming event on social media and it has not gone down well with the boxing world.