Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou sees the eagerly-awaited return to action of boxing’s linear heavyweight champion – but in a fight with a twist.
Instead of locking horns with Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title in the fight game’s marquee weight class, ‘The Gypsy King’ will instead throw down with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
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It may not be the match the boxing cognoscenti had dreamed of, but it is sure to deliver a welter of column inches with at least a hint of the unknown. Oh, and likely a nice purse for the two men involved…
Here is all you need to know about the next big ‘heavyweight fight’ (see what we did there…).
Date, time and how to watch live
Fury vs Ngannou is scheduled for Saturday October 28, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The start time is
The fight will be a pay-per-view affair in both the UK and the United States. TNT Sports Box Office (former BT Sport Box Office) will have the call in the UK with the fight having a price point of £21.95, with ESPN+ having the Stateside rights with a price of $79.99). Most other territories globally will carry the bout on DAZN.
The PPV portion of the card will get under way around 1900 UK (1400 Eastern Standard Time, 1100 PST) and ring walks for Fury vs Ngannou are expected to be around 2240 UK time (1740 Eastern, 1440 PST).
What are the rules for Fury vs Ngannou?
Good question, what with all the YouTuber/Misfits action hitting our screens these days.
This one is set for 10 rounds with traditional boxing rules, with three ringside judges.
Fury vs Ngannou odds
Not surprisingly Fury is a heavy favourite against a man who has never boxed professionally. He’s currently trading at 1/10 with Ngannou an 8/1 shot and the draw a 33/1 chance.
Is Fury’s heavyweight title on the line?
The simple answer here is a negative. This is a non-title bout, and assuming Fury comes through unscathed he will move on to that blockbusting unification match with Usyk. The two men of course signed for that bout in late September. Again it will take place in Saudi Arabia – but there is no confirmed date as yet.
How much is Fury getting paid to fight Ngannou?
Purses are not officially revealed, but Fury’s fellow British heavyweight Dereck Chisora claimed recently that ‘The Gypsy King’ will pick up a cool $50million for his night’s work on October 28. Pretty nice if you can get it.
Fury vs Ngannou weights
This is a heavyweight match, so no weight limits of course. And the weigh-in took place in Riyadh on Friday (October 27).
Fury tipped the scales at a massive 277lbs (19st 11lbs), five pounds heavier than Ngannou (272lbs or 19st 6lbs).
Francis Ngannou career record and life story
The 36-year-old Ngannou (17-3 in MMA combat with 12 KOs) has a life story that most wouldn’t believe possible. The 6’4, 280-pound physical specimen from Cameroon grew up working in a sand quarry starting from the age of 10.
At 22 years old, harbouring a dream to box, Francis decided to leave on foot across the Sahara, traveling on raft across the Strait of Gibraltar on a life-threatening journey, only to find himself homeless on the streets of Paris, walking into a gym. It didn’t take long for his coaches and peers there to realize his raw talents and God-given power to knock people out.
He was encouraged to enter an MMA tournament to make some extra cash in November 2013, and less than 8 years later, Francis would become the UFC’s first-ever African Heavyweight Champion, knocking out arguably the greatest Heavyweight in UFC History, Stipe Miocic, spectacularly in the second round. In January 2022, Ngannou defended his title against the undefeated interim UFC Champion Ciryl Gane, winning the fight via unanimous decision, all while fighting on a torn ACL and MCL against doctors’ guidance.
In late 2022, Ngannou decided to enter free agency and departed the UFC following the end of his contract, subsequently signing an unprecedented mega-deal as a global strategic partner with global MMA co-leader Professional Fighters League (PFL) and their Super Fights Division in 2023, further serving as the Chairman of PFL Africa, set to launch in 2025.
Fury vs Ngannou Undercard
Unbeaten British heavyweight standouts Fabio Wardley and David Adeleye will clash in a 12-rounder as the chief support to Fury vs Ngannou.
Former WBO world champion Joseph Parker (32-3, 22 KOs) goes up against Canada’s Simon Kean (23-1, 22 KOs), and bone-crunching puncher Arslanbek Makhmudov (17-0, 16 KOs), also residing in Canada, defends his NABF title against Croatian veteran Agron Smakici (19-2, 17 KOs). Both fights are scheduled for 10 rounds.
In a special six-round special attraction, 18-year-old heavyweight phenomenon Moses Itauma (5-0, 3 KOs) will face an opponent to be named.
