Francis Ngannou
Cameroonian-French MMA star and boxer Francis Ngannou warms up while former US boxer Mike Tyson speaks to media during a training session at Ngannou’s gym in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 26, 2023. Mixed martial arts star Francis Ngannou will have heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in his corner when he faces World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in the boxing ring in Saudi Arabia on October 28. Photo: Ian Maule / AFP

Home » Fury v Ngannou is a ‘joke shop’ says former champ

Fury v Ngannou is a ‘joke shop’ says former champ

A Multiple super-middleweight world champion has labelled the upcoming Fury v Ngannou bout in Saudi Arabia as a ‘joke shop’.

19-10-23 19:21
Francis Ngannou
Cameroonian-French MMA star and boxer Francis Ngannou warms up while former US boxer Mike Tyson speaks to media during a training session at Ngannou’s gym in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 26, 2023. Mixed martial arts star Francis Ngannou will have heavyweight legend Mike Tyson in his corner when he faces World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in the boxing ring in Saudi Arabia on October 28. Photo: Ian Maule / AFP

Multiple super-middleweight world champion Carl Froch has labelled Tyson Fury’s upcoming boxing bout with Francis Ngannou as a ‘joke shop’.

Froch said that he wouldn’t begrudge Fury taking the biggest payday of his career to spar with someone who, despite his high profile in combat sports, is a novice to professional boxing.

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NGANNOU BOUT IS A ‘JOKE SHOP’

However, the two-time amateur English national champion feels that the bout itself will be a dud for fans of boxing.

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Froch believes that promoter Frank Warren is using this Ngannou fight as a teaser for the unification bout between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

“I think it’s a ‘play fight’ and a bit ‘joke shop’ fight, which I’ve made my opinion quite clear on regarding this Fury vs Ngannou fight – it’s not real boxing, it’s not proper boxing but I think we are now starting to understand it,” Froch told Betting Sites.

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“I think maybe it was a cunning plan by Frank Warren – because what he’s done is got this Ngannou fight lined up that boxing purists are not very happy about but in the meantime, he’s announced Tyson Fury is fighting Oleksandr Usyk.

“So people are going to watch the Ngannou fight with one eye on the shape and the performance – thinking of what’s around the corner with the fights quite close together. 

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“A bit of a masterplan, genius from Frank Warren, because at the end of the day, Fury is getting paid his career-biggest payday for a ‘move around’ and I’ve said before I’d have done the same in my career.”

WILL FURY FIGHT USYK

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Froch remains unconvinced that the fight between the Gypsy King and Usyk will go ahead.

“Lucky for him {Tyson Fury}, Frank Warren and boxing that Fury has announced he’s fighting Usyk – because that’s very important that that fight happens,” Froch said. 

“I’m still a little bit sceptical it will happen.”

WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury takes on PFL star Francis Ngannou on Sarturday 28 October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.