Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou takes on WBC boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this October. It’s a big challenge, but “The Predator” won’t be going at it alone. He has Mike Tyson in his corner to help him prepare for Fury.
In a new promotional video to hype up the MMA vs. boxing superfight, Tyson has become the main attraction. The secret weapon. The man who will help Francis Ngannou cut through all the unnecessary boxing knowledge and just focus on landing that one punch: the KO punch that will make him the Baddest Man on the Planet.
The video trailer is titled ‘Molding a champion.’
Another area “Iron Mike” has Ngannou working on: conditioning.
“We’re fighting an experienced, elusive champion, OK?” Tyson said on the BBC5 Love Boxing Podcast (via BoxingScene). “Francis is picking up his endurance, because this is what this fight is going to be about. It’s gonna be a war of attrition. We’re gonna keep Francis in good shape and constantly punching because, for this fight, we’re gonna need constant activity. We’re working with Francis on that.
“As I said earlier, he has great aptitude. He learns real quick. I appreciate that and I think he’s really gonna do more than what you guys are anticipating.”
It would be foolish to try and train Ngannou to beat Fury via decision. Training him to maintain that knockout power through 10 rounds? A much better strategy. We’ll see how it plays out October 28th in Saudi Arabia.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
