Lineal & WBC heavyweight boxing champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury and lineal heavyweight MMA champion Francis Ngannou met directly today for the starting press conference of the year’s crucial combat sports event.
Fury and Ngannou will meet in a 10-round boxing fight on Saturday, October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It’s a great showdown between two leaders of their divisions, signaling the beginning of this year’s Riyadh Season. The fight will be conducted under the official rules of professional boxing, with the three ringside judges employing the 10-point must system.
This heavyweight fight is brought to you by Queensberry, Top Rank, and Ngannou’s promotional banner, GIMIK Fight Promotions.
Fury-Ngannou will be available for purchase via pay-per-view in the United States.
At the press conference today, Fury, Ngannou, and the great promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren shared their thoughts:
Tyson Fury “I’m stoked to step into the ring with Francis. He’s shaping up to be an outstanding opponent. Clearly, he’s in beast mode, both mentally and physically. Duking it out with mostly traditional boxers has been my thing, but facing an MMA enthusiast like Francis? That’s an exciting curveball.”
“I’m all in for this showdown. It’s set to be a game-changer. Major props to Francis for his journey — from his grind to his relentless drive that got him here.”
“Francis has earned mad respect, not just as a fighter, but as a stand-up guy and a champ. Given his presence and power, I’m pulling out all the stops in training, gunning for the best prep I can get.”
Francis Ngannou “I’m on cloud nine right now. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve dreamt of stepping into the boxing world. And now? I’m not just stepping in; I’m squaring up with the crème de la crème. The hype around this is so real; it’s all I can think about. We’re about to make some serious waves.”
“While I’ve always aimed for the stars, this event? It’s on another level. We aren’t just throwing punches; we’re launching the Riyadh Season, blending culture with combat. This gig keeps getting bigger. While the outcome’s up in the air, one thing’s for sure: I’m bringing my A-game, and I’m here to win.”
Bob Arum “This event? It’s global buzz, no doubt. Especially in the U.S., where MMA’s blowing up and Francis Ngannou is the man of the hour. Meanwhile, Tyson’s been crushing it stateside, making him a sports icon. Their collaboration? It’s got everyone on the edge of their seats.”
Frank Warren “This showdown? It’s off the charts. Hands down, it’s the most epic gig I’ve been a part of. We’ve got a clash of the champs: one, a maestro in his domain, the other, the legend, Tyson Fury, who’s been delivering knockout performances. Whether he’s playing it smart or going toe-to-toe, this is going to be lit.”