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The upcoming boxing match between Tyson Fury and former UFC heavyweight star Francis Ngannou is generating immense anticipation and is considered one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year. According to an esteemed UFC critic and journalist Ariel Helwani, an announcement confirming the fight is expected to be made very soon. While it has not been explicitly stated whether the match will be an official bout, recent reports strongly suggest that it will be an exhibition match rather than an official fight.
The possibility of a match between Ngannou and Fury was initially teased by Fury in April of 2022 after the British boxer called Ngannou over to join an interview, following a knockout victory over Dillian Whyte. There have been difficulties and delays in finalizing the arrangement, including the UFC reportedly attempting to lure Fury away by offering him a fight against Jon Jones. However, Fury has been eager to make the fight with Ngannou happen and, finally, it appears that their bout is on the horizon.
What do we know about a potential bout?
Boxing promoter Hearn said, "It will be an exhibition apparently, no knockdowns or anything.” Nothing more is known yet, but there are rumors abound that the fight will take place in the Middle East and will be a lucrative earning opportunity for both fighters.
“Yes, Francis Ngannou,” Fury said. “There’s been a lot of talk of me and Ngannou fighting each other, and he wants to come to boxing, he wanted to fight me. He’s been talking a lot of stuff on Instagram, wants to fight. Was even at one of my last fights. Got in the ring, confronted me. There’s potential, potential. We’ve had a lot of offers come in from the Middle East at the moment to host that fight this summer,” Fury further added.
Tyson Fury remains undefeated in his professional boxing career with an impressive record of 33 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw. He has held the WBC heavyweight title since 2020, cementing his status as one of the top fighters in the division.
Francis Ngannou recently competed in the UFC as a heavyweight star. In his final UFC fight in January 2022, he defeated Ciryl Gane to claim the heavyweight championship. Ngannou holds a record of 17-3-0 in his MMA career.
