“His Jab Reminds Me a Little Bit of George Foreman”: Mike Tyson’s Former Trainer Explains Gameplan That Francis Ngannou Can Use to ‘Disrupt’ Tyson Fury

Francis Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is gearing up to box WBC champion Tyson Fury on Saturday. Fans had hoped for a Fury-Oleksandr Usyk fight for the undisputed heavyweight title, but Fury chose a different path. Though, after his fight against Ngannou, ‘The Gypsy King’ will go on to fight Oleksandr Usyk sometime in December or January. But does Ngannou have a chance against one of the greatest heavyweights of all time?

Teddy Atlas, Tyson’s former trainer, thinks Ngannou needs to improve his basics to compete. Previously, on his show ‘The Fight,’ Atlas offered advice for Ngannou to avoid defeat. He stressed mastering fundamentals, especially the jab, to counter Fury’s advantages. Despite the experience gap, Atlas highlights the need for smart strategies to even the odds. Transitioning to today, Teddy Atlas has compared the Cameroonian fighter’s style to the former two-time world heavyweight champion George Foreman.

Why does Francis Ngannou remind Teddy Atlas of George Foreman?

In a recent interview with ESPN, Teddy Atlas gave advice on boxing against a strong opponent like Francis Ngannou. He stressed that mental toughness is the key to handling fight stress and pressure. Atlas insists on ring control. According to him, don’t let your opponent set the fight’s pace or style. He warns against falling victim to the opponent’s jab.

A jab is simple but effective, and it can harm you if you let it control you. He said, “You have to be able to take it; if you can’t, at least alleviate it a little bit. You have to control it; you can’t let them dominate you with the jab.”

Atlas called Francis a tough opponent. In his regard, he’s tall, athletic, and strong. What particularly piqued fans’ interest was when Atlas declared that the MMA Star’s jab is as powerful as George Foreman’s, a high compliment. Atlas said, “Francis is tall, long, athletic, and strong. His jab reminds me a little bit of George Foreman; it’s like a phone pole. So you better make some calls and don’t make them collect…” 

To counter, Atlas recommends Ngannou to use the jab effectively against an opponent like Tyson Fury. This is because in this case, the opponent is Fury, an elite boxer. Thus, making Fury cautious can ruin his strategy. As Teddy said, “You better start using that jab to give Fury, the elite boxer, something to be honest about, something to worry about. Don’t let him dominate you with his best punch. Aim the jab at the chest; even if you don’t catch him in the head, hitting him in the chest will disrupt him.”

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Francis Ngannou’s switch to boxing is a game-changer, and his training with Mike Tyson adds an intriguing layer. Ngannou’s jab, likened to George Foreman’s, could be his secret weapon. To win, he must control the ring and disrupt Fury’s strategy. It’s not just a fight; it’s a clash of styles, strategies, and legacies.

What do you make of Atlas’ opinion? Tell us in the comment section below!

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