The day after tomorrow, former UFC Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou meets the reigning WBC Heavyweight boxing champion, Tyson Fury, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. One of the most significant crossover battles of the year will be fought over ten rounds under boxing rules inside a regulation boxing ring. Fighting on his home turf, he remains the heavy favorite to win.

So what can ‘The Predator’ do to avoid becoming the prey? The Cameroonian-French fighter surprised everyone by roping Mike Tyson into his camp. Adding one of the greatest Heavyweight champions of all time, to say the least, is expected to reduce the sharp difference in boxing skills between the former and Fury. But could that also help Ngannou, the underdog, reverse the tide and score one of the biggest upsets in combat sports history?

What is the team stacked up against?

Standing 6 feet and 9 inches tall, Tyson Fury enters the ring tall, with an 85-inch reach. Barring the match he drew with Deontay Wilder, he remains an undefeated champion. 73% of his 33 wins came through knockouts. Despite his weight and size, when it boils down to boxing skills, ‘The Gypsy King’ stands head and shoulders above the rest. He uses various approaches, never sticking to one style in particular. For instance, the Mancunian famously swarmed ‘The Bronze Bomber’ during their trilogy fight.

Additionally, he can create angles with his footwork and counterpunches. Even in defense, he remains top-tier by effortlessly avoiding attacks by slipping, rolling his shoulders, and parrying. Thus, due to his exceptional boxing IQ and all-around skill set, Tyson Fury freely employs whichever strategy he and the team believe will offer the best chance of victory against any given opponent.

In response, Francis Ngannou

With 12 out of his 17 victories coming through knockouts, ‘The Predator’ is in the same league as Fury. When tested with a PowerKube, Ngannou’s punches reportedly registered 129,161 units. However, despite that devastating power, outboxing ‘The Gypsy King’ remains somewhat out of the question for Francis Ngannou. Hence, he will have to unload that enormous, game-changing blow and follow it up with a few more to drain out the Briton.

Secondly, Francis Ngannou will make Tyson Fury’s job easier if he meets him like a true-blue boxer. However, that’ll be a big mistake since he lacks the basic boxing foundation. It will be better for him to proceed like a mixed martial artist. That way, he will appear awkward in a controlled manner. It will confuse Fury and perhaps allow him to land a powerful punch to change the narrative.

While speaking on Sky Sports Boxing, former UFC fighter Dan Hardy said, “I think if I think the more he tries to be a boxer against someone like Tyson Fury, who is elite, he’s going to look like a novice. I think if he looks like a fighter, like an MMA fighter, and he can be a little bit wild and a bit reckless, sometimes that’s when those punches land because the..the… the punch that hurts Tyson is not going to be something that’s been trained in a boxing gym that he sees coming it’s going to be something that’s wild and unpredictable.”

Finally, if ‘The Predator’ could resort to a more unrefined approach, stay out of Fury’s reach, and avoid playing boxing, it might even force the latter into a defensive approach to avoid injuries. As everyone knows, Fury is highly effective in the clinch. But given his mixed martial arts experience, Ngannou should be able to make life difficult for ‘The Gypsy King.’

Enter ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’

So where does Mike Tyson’s training fit between Tyson Fury’s outstanding boxing and Francis Ngannou’s ability to create chances? The former boasts vast experience and exposure, fighting guys much bigger. The youngest Heavyweight champion seems fit for the mentorship role. No one expects ‘The Predator’ to usurp a surprise. Still, he can leverage the notion to his advantage.

Regarding the sheer boxer-to-boxer connect, given Tyson’s expertise in footwork and defense, Francis Ngannou should move around the ring more freely and avoid getting hit by Fury. Most fans knew a prime Tyson for his exceptional timing and a brilliant repertoire of punches to select from. So, apart from receiving these precious gems, Ngannou could now execute his blows with greater precision and power.

Speaking to the media, Francis Ngannou said, “We are working on the delivery system, and if you’ve been watching my training, we have one of the best guys who ever lived in the camp, Mike Tyson.” Ultimately, as often said, boxing remains a thinking man’s sport. Battles in the ring are often fought in the mind. Given what it takes to stay on top, Mike Tyson has helped Ngannou keep his mind strong. Most importantly, he should remain focused on what’s happening inside the ring.

Read More: How Much is Mike Tyson Charging Francis Ngannou For Training Ahead of Tyson Fury Fight?

Even if Tyson Fury beats him on Saturday, do you think Francis Ngannou should continue with more projects in boxing? Please share your views with us in the comments below.

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