In the heart of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the boxing week started with a bang on Tuesday evening. Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury, the WBC & lineal heavyweight boxing world champion, and Francis Ngannou, the lineal MMA heavyweight world champ, announced their arrival with style, warming up the air for their big fight this coming Saturday, Oct. 28, live on ESPN PPV.
Queensberry, Top Rank, and GIMIK Fight Promotions are steering the ship for this spectacle. Fans in the US can catch the live stream on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, starting from 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. For a price tag of $79.99, the event is also accessible through cable and satellite PPV outlets.
The PPV undercard promises a feast for fans of heavy punches: an exciting showdown between British hotshots Fabio Wardley (16-0, 15 KOs) and David Adeleye (12-0, 11 KOs), plus a significant 10-round fight with ex-heavyweight champ Joseph Parker (32-3, 22 KOs) facing the Canadian power puncher, Simon Kean (23-1, 22 KOs).
Arslanbek Makhmudov (17-0, 16 KOs), the Montreal powerhouse, is set to challenge Junior Anthony Wright (20-4-1, 17 KOs) in a 10-round clash. Moses Itauma (5-0, 3 KOs) will kick off the PPV action against Istvan Bernath (10-1, 8 KOs).
During the flashy arrivals on Tuesday, Fury and Ngannou shared some gems:
Tyson Fury:
“Anyone up for trading punches? I did it with Wilder and Wladimir, and I’ll do the same with Ngannou. Imagine me delivering a masterful performance, not letting him land a punch. Pure art! The moment he feels my right, he’s in for a surprise.”
“Looking back, I realize my own genius. The world thought I was done, yet here I am, ready to shine. Forget about any other fight; I’m here to roast Ngannou, then I’ll think about the next.”
Francis Ngannou:
“From where I’ve come, I can only say, ‘I made it!’ I didn’t focus on mimicking Fury; I trained for my game. It was tough, but worth it. Despite being new to boxing, challenges fuel me.”
“We’re the baddest on the planet, aiming for the top. I’ve eyed Fury for years. The moment presented itself, and I knew he’s the one I wanted to fight.”
Saturday, October 28 – The Main Event Lineup:
- Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou – 10 rounds, heavyweight
- Fabio Wardley vs. David Adeleye – 12 rounds, heavyweight
- Joseph Parker vs. Simon Kean – 10 rounds, heavyweight
- Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Junior Anthony Wright – 10 rounds, heavyweight
- Moses Itauma vs. Istvan Bernath – 6 rounds, heavyweight
