2023-09-27 03:51:12
Las Vegas (United States) (AFP) – Sharp, powerful blows resonate in a room with black walls in Las Vegas, in front of a small, fascinated audience: MMA star Francis Ngannou is preparing a boxing fight against the Briton Tyson Fury, attended by American legend Mike Tyson.
The 37-year-old Cameroonian, former heavyweight champion of the UFC (main mixed martial arts league), surprised by scheduling a lucrative and intriguing English boxing fight against Fury, the “Gipsy King”, king of the weight category heavy, scheduled for October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Tuesday afternoon, in the southwest of Las Vegas, trainer Dewey Cooper, covered in protection, was molested by Ngannou, a real mountain with hands dressed in white gloves (1.93 m, almost 120 kilos). Left-right, hook-uppercut, Cooper leads a precise dance that makes the champion’s fists speak.
Further back, black and white hat on his head, Mike Tyson, aged 57, sometimes intervenes to correct a movement, mimes lightning gestures, under the studious and intimidated gaze of the student Ngannou.
Boxer Francis Ngannou (c), Franco-Cameroonian MMA star, watches his trainer Dewey Cooper face former American boxer Mike Tyson (d) in Las Vegas, September 26, 2023 © Ian Maule / AFP
“He comes from time to time to lend a hand, his expertise. I had specially asked for him four years ago, long before the fight was announced, the first time I met him,” explains to around twenty media outlets the Cameroonian in his calm voice. “He has something inspiring, something motivating. If I could ever have just a little bit of what he has, boxing would be very easy for me.”
Tyson “Fear”
Ngannou, who calls Tyson an “idol,” has no professional boxing record. The “Predator”, his nickname, built a reputation as a fearsome puncher when he became UFC heavyweight champion, a title he retained until his departure in January due to his acrimonious relationship with the president of the organization, Dana White, considered not generous enough.
The Las Vegas resident, who has won 17 of his 20 professional UFC fights, including 12 by knockout, will make more money in this fight against Fury than in his entire UFC career , he said.
Ex-boxer Mike Tyson attends a training session by Cameroonian-French MMA star and boxer Francis Ngannou (not pictured) in Las Vegas, September 26, 2023 © Ian Maule / AFP
The Cameroonian assures that he takes this fight very seriously, he who practiced English boxing before his arrival in France in 2012 and his discovery of MMA.
“He is entirely focused on fighting, he works hard, I think people will be surprised,” Tyson says from the ring in a raspy, barely audible voice. “I don’t know if Fury is nervous, but he would be right to be.”
“I am very proud of him (Ngannou), he is taking on perhaps the best fighter in the world. I can’t wait to see him take this step forward towards this impossible feat,” adds the caption.
“Mastodons”
The whimsical Fury, aged 35, is in fact undefeated (33 wins, one draw) and reigns supreme in the heavyweight category, despite a disjointed career, between depressive episodes, drug consumption and a few true-false retirements.
WBC champion, the Briton will not put his belt on the line against Ngannou, for a well-contested fight “according to the official rules” of the noble art.
British WBC champion Tyson Fury trains in Los Angeles, October 25, 2018 © John MCCOY / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/Archives
Despite the apparent imbalance, “anything can happen in the heavyweight category” warns the Franco-Cameroonian Carlos Takam, another reference in the category aged 42, who beat the Frenchman Tony Yoka in March in Paris.
“We’re talking about behemoths, guys who can hit you with 120 kg. Don’t be surprised if something happens during this fight. Francis, if he lands his shot well, Tyson Fury takes it and doesn’t get up.” , assures Takam.
The boxer has been preparing with Ngannou since the beginning of August in the city of gambling, for one of the opening fights on October 28 in Riyadh, against the Congolese Martin Bakole, also a former Yoka striker.
“Three months ago no one believed it,” says Ngannou, faced with accusations of “bad decision” that could “screw his career”.
“And yet here they are, talking to me about the biggest fight in history,” smiles the colossus, who is also continuing his career in MMA, after signing a contract with the PFL organization, a competitor to the UFC.
© 2023 AFP
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