The weekend before Halloween just got even more interesting from a sports betting standpoint. The World Series will be underway along with the regular seasons in college football, the NFL, NBA and NHL. Now add the most intriguing boxing/MMA crossover fight since Floyd Mayweather beat Conor McGregor in the ring in 2017, as boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will face former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou in the ring Oct. 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Fury has opened as a -500 favorite with Ngannou at +350.
This fight has been talked about for more than a year, but at multiple times it looked like a longshot.
"I've been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years," Ngannou said in a news release. "My dream was always to box, and to box the best. After becoming the undisputed MMA heavyweight champion, this is my opportunity to make that dream come true and cement my position as the baddest man on the planet. All I will say to Tyson for now is he better dance in that ring because if I touch him, he's going to sleep."
Fury is a big favorite because he's not stupid enough to fight Ngannou under MMA rules. Today's official announcement of the bout also clarified that it will take place in a regulation boxing ring under boxing rules, including three ringside judges using the 10-point system. ESPN is reporting that it's still unclear whether Fury's WBC heavyweight title will be on the line, how many rounds will be scheduled, and whether the fight will count toward the combatants' pro boxing records.
The 34-year-old Fury, from the United Kingdom, is a huge man at 6-foot-9, 270 pounds and is 33-0-1 in his boxing career. The lone draw came vs. Deontay Wilder in December 2018, although Fury has since beaten Wilder twice. Fury was last in the ring in December, when he successfully defended his WBC heavyweight belt with a 10th-round TKO of Derek Chisora.
"As soon as that bell goes, it'll be bombs away," Fury said in the release of facing Ngannou. "This guy is supposed to be the hardest puncher in the world, but let's see how he reacts when he gets hit by the Big GK. I can't wait to get back out there under the lights. I'm looking forward to showing the world that 'The Gypsy King' is the greatest fighter of his generation in an epic battle with another master of his craft. Francis looked tough when he jumped in the ring after the (Dillian) Whyte fight, but there is no one tougher than me."
The 36-year-old Ngannou, from France, is 6-foot-4, 260 pounds and 17-3 in his MMA career. He did train as a boxer earlier in his career and originally planned to pursue professional boxing, but that never came to fruition.
Ngannou beat Ciryl Gane in January 2022 by unanimous decision to defend the UFC heavyweight belt – and avenge a 2018 title loss -- but Ngannou and the organization couldn't agree on contract terms going forward, so he left for the Professional Fighters League, which allows him to box. In March, former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones won the vacant heavyweight belt against Gane.
Ngannou, who had knockouts in five of his final six UFC bouts, has a huge reach of 83 inches, but will be giving up two inches of reach to Fury.
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