Francis Ngannou is all set to face Tyson Fury for one of the most anticipated events of the year this Saturday. The fight has been billed as ‘The Battle of The Baddest’. Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion will be looking to carry his ferocious power into the ring against boxing heavyweight champion, Fury.
The location for this historic bout will be the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh. And stars from across the globe have been spotted at the pre-fight events. However, a video showing an interaction between Francis Ngannou and rapper Eminem has gone viral on the internet! And fans can’t help but laugh at the events that transpired between the two!
Francis Ngannou almost doesn’t notice ‘Slim Shady’ and fans can’t stop laughing
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Francis Ngannou captured the UFC heavyweight title by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. He then defended his title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 where he secured a decision victory despite entering the fight with a compromised knee. Ngannou exited the UFC in 2022 due to disputes with his contract and his desire to test himself in the boxing ring.
The announcement of a boxing match between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou sent the combat sports world into a frenzy. The bout will go on the professional records for both men despite Fury’s WBC title not being on the line. Nevertheless, the event has attracted stars from all avenues of entertainment to witness the battle between the two best athletes from their respective sports.
In a recent video shared on social media, Ngannou can be seen greeting people as he makes his way to a pre-fight event. But he appears to not notice rapper, Eminem trying to shake his hand. Ngannou’s team then points out the ‘Rap God’ to him and he reacts with surprise before shaking hands and embracing the rapper. Fans quickly flocked to the comments section, and their reactions revealed that the community was astonished by the star power the event had drawn.
Francis Ngannou's face when he realises he nearly blanked @Eminem 😂
Shoutout to @stylebender, real recognises real 🤝 😅#BattleOfTheBaddest | #FuryNgannou | Saturday, 6PM | Live on TNT Sports Box Office pic.twitter.com/GAcj76BH85
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) October 27, 2023
Here’s how the fans reacted.
Fans referenced Eminem’s hit song, ‘Lose Yourself’
Ngannou had one shot and he didn’t miss his chance to blow 😂
— Lucia (@LuciaLovelyyy) October 27, 2023
Ngannou’s reaction also drew laughter from the fans
He was like oh shit how did I miss the goat 😂
— Kyle Pearson (@KylePearso81698) October 27, 2023
Eminem’s presence reminded fans of the scale of the event
Eminem is there! this is huge!
— Talsea (@SillahTafsir) October 27, 2023
Some expressed their admiration
No you can't blank a GOAT 🔥🔥🔥🤣😂
— Tony Jnr 🧑🏾 (@Bobbyme3) October 27, 2023
And other’s couldn’t believe someone could not notice ‘Slim’
how dare you nearly blank slim shady
— Bazza J MUFC 🇾🇪🔰 (@mubaz31) October 27, 2023
And like the rest of us, many wished they were present at the event to witness the GOATs from all avenues
How many legends are there in Saudi, man I wish I was there rn , they’ve literally got every alive GOAT to come to this event
— Ishaq Khan (@IshQuack_) October 28, 2023
Many others also expressed their happiness at Ngannou’s success.
I'm happy for francis. He live like royalty this week.
— Tony240sx 🧢 (@tonysxo8) October 28, 2023
While some jokingly stated that Ngannou missed Eminem due to the height difference between the two
He is so tall, he couldnt see him 🤣🤣🤣
— Akbar Ismoilov (@akbar_movee) October 27, 2023
The video of Francis Ngannou unintentionally missing Eminem at a pre-fight event evidently sparked a mix of humor and admiration among fans. They celebrated the comical aspect of the moment while also recognizing the star-studded nature of the event as Eminem isn’t the only celebrity present at the event!
Ngannou vs Fury has drawn celebrities from all over the world
While the crossover bout has drawn criticisms from purists of the sport, the event has still drawn A-list stars to the occasion. Among the celebrities spotted at the pre-fight events were, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, and the Brazilian Ronaldo, representing the soccer community.
In the world of combat sports, Mike Tyson, legendary heavyweight champion and Ngannou’s trainer for this bout was present. Oleksandr Usyk who is set to face Tyson Fury later this year also made an unexpected appearance at the event. And he even shared an embrace and a few words with his future opponent, Fury.
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And possibly the biggest star in MMA, Conor McGregor has also confirmed that he will be attending the event too! In a voice note shared on social media, McGregor stated, “So excited to be there, can’t wait to touch down in Saudi Arabia, see what the country has to offer, and I appreciate the invite sincerely.”
The star-studded affair might be the biggest combat sports event this year. And Fury claiming in pre-fight interviews that he will be looking to knock out Ngannou, fans can’t wait for the two to throw down in the ring.
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Do you think Tyson Fury can handle Francis Ngannou’s power inside the ring? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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