Skills, luck, or X-factor. Francis Ngannou needs it all to turn the boxing world upside down and slay the British enforcer, Tyson Fury. Ever since the fight between them received a green light, the purists have shelved the former UFC champion’s chances. When both stand across from each other in the squared circle on October 28 in Riyadh, only the better boxer on that day will stand tall. But does ‘The Predator’ possess the skill set to topple ‘The Gypsy King’?

The exciting fight had been in the making for well over a year, and it took a rebellion against the UFC to set up the fight. Ngannou, with a deep-seated desire to excel in boxing, wanted a flexible contract, which the UFC failed to comply with. After leaving the UFC, the Cameroonian-French fighter was quick to pen a fight deal with Fury. However, the question is, can he bully Fury? Millions of eyes will find out this Saturday, but you can have a glimpse into the future after scrolling down.

Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou: punching power, boxing skills, and a clash of brute heavyweights

Standing at 6’3″, Ngannou has carved out a name for himself as a fearsome knockout artist. He holds an impressive record of 17-3 with 12 KOs in his name. Meanwhile, Fury, 6’9″, is a beast who has brushed aside all his opponents in the ring and boasts a record of 33-0-1, 24 KOs.

There is a growing fascination with Ngannou’s punching power, which might be his sole trick in the bag. The 37-year-old has decimated opponents in the cage with a single blow, and that’s the only thing going for him. When balanced on the scales of boxing, Fury has yet to meet his match. The Manchester-born with an 85″ reach throws long punches, marches forward, and fights aggressively.

Ngannou’s boxing skills are hard to assess. While he fought in the UFC and relied on boxing sporadically, his MMA fights never exhibited the full extent of his boxing prowess. When you are in the ring against a dominant champion such as Fury, your MMA resume goes to the bin.

Therefore, except for Ngannou’s one thunderous punch, there is nothing on the paper that threatens Fury. But if Mike Tyson is to be believed, that’s all it takes.

The Mike Tyson factor

To continue his “baddest man on the planet” legacy, ‘Iron Mike’ jumped into the crossover boxing fray. The American boxer is helping Ngannou train and polish his boxing skills. This has even earned him some animosity in Tyson Fury’s camp.

The visuals of Ngannou throwing punches in training have left the fans dissatisfied. Despite this, Mike Tyson has banked his faith in the MMA fighter and is even backing him to collect a win.

“He’s able to do so much more than I anticipated… Once he lands a punch on Tyson Fury’s jaw, he is going to knock him out too. Nobody can survive that,” Tyson announced in a conversation with the Daily Mail recently. However, he is part of a small minority. Others are putting their chips on the boxer named after him.

The boxing community has its pick between Fury and Ngannou

Everyone is upbeat about the exciting bout and the crossover clash. Despite giving Ngannou a puncher’s chance, very few are picking him over Fury. Former champion Amir Khan told TNT Sport, “But realistically, Fury is going to win. He’s going to win because he’s the boxer.”

Frank Warren shares similar sentiments. He expressed to Boxing Scene, “He [Franis Ngannou] is robust, battle-hardened, and powerful… However, in no way do I expect him to try and outbox Tyson.” Likewise, Eddie Hearn told Boxing Social that Ngannou couldn’t win a round and couldn’t hurt Fury. Additionally, Matchroom Boxing Head pointed out that MMA fighters were not elite strikers like boxers.

Read More: “Brought in Some of the Best…”: With Days Left in Battle of the Baddest, Tyson Fury Details What Went in Making of the Promo Clip for the Fight Which Generated 200 Million Views in First Week

Therefore, when Fury announces his intention to knock out Ngannou in six rounds, no one bats an eye. But few might also recall that it was Conor McGregor who gave Floyd Mayweather a tough fight. An analogous fight awaits in Riyadh this Saturday.

What do you make of MMA star Francis Ngannou’s challenge against Tyson Fury? Will you fancy a major upset on the card? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch This Story: 57-Year-Old Mike Tyson Called Out to Fight on Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou Undercard