Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou expected to fight in October in Saudi Arabia

Tyson Fury won’t fight Oleksandr Usyk, but he will face Francis Ngannou instead. The Gipsy King and the former UFC heavyweight will meet inside a boxing ring on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, although it’s still unknown if it will be an exhibition bout.

The Cameroonian left the UFC to join PFL at the start of the year after not being able to get to a money agreement to renew his contract with the world’s biggest mixed martial arts promotion.

Ngannou left the company presided by Dana White as the champion. After that, Jon Jones and Cyril Gane fought for the vacant title, which Bones ended up winning.

Fury is boxing’s heavyweight champion alongside Usyk, but both fighters never got to a deal to fight each other in what would be a mega fight.

A fight Ngannou really wanted

Finally, combat sports fans will be able to watch two powerful heavyweights go at it in a boxing fight, which should favor Fury.

After the Brit defeated Dillian Whyte in 2022, Ngannou joined Fury in the ring and offered a joint interview discussing a potential clash that would include hybrid rules with boxing and MMA. However, it will be a boxing event, since Tyson knew he would have gladly accepted it anyways, as it finally happened.

Fury (33-0-1) is one of the main boxing faces today and one the best heavyweights in recent history. He last defeated Derek Chisora in December, and before that, he defeated Deontay Wilder twice.

Meanwhile, one of the main reasons for Ngannou’s departure from the UFC, besides the money issue, was his determination to box and try to get the Fury bout. The fighter decided to part ways with the promotion while holding the title as the UFC was against the idea of letting him fight in a boxing payday while under contract.

The African star went 17-3 in the promotion from 2015 to 2022, beating Stipe Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title in March 2021.