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The fighting world has been waiting to see who Francis Ngannou would take on in his boxing debut.
Rumors were that he would face off against a lesser known opponent to get things rolling before taking his first MMA fight in the PFL.
However, it appears he’s going to the big stage after Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury announce their fight date. But some things still remain unclear.
According to Mike Coppinger, the two heavyweight phenoms will face off against each other on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Coppinger also reports that it’s unclear if Fury’s belt “will be on the line.”
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will fight on Oct. 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sources told ESPN.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman didn't respond to a text message asking if Fury's heavyweight title will be on the line. The rules and number of rounds are unclear at this time. pic.twitter.com/shxhaqvjt8
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 11, 2023
On top of that, nobody is sure what rules or guidelines the fight will follow. There has been speculation that Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury will create their own fight with unique rules.
But clearly, nothing is set in stone and they have several months to iron out the details.
With that said, it’s interesting to note Fury’s heavyweight title may not be on the line for this bout. If it’s not, then we should expect to see these two duke out in an exhibition match.
This will be something to monitor closely as the October 28 fight date draws closer. You’d think more interest would be gained if Tyson Fury put his belt on the line. But at the same time it makes sense why he wouldn’t want to.
If anything, this is a massive cash grab for the two of them and who can blame them? One of the reasons Ngannou left the UFC was to chase the money and it’s seemingly paying off already.
This is a matchup fight fans should be excited about. Tyson Fury has the advantage in the boxing ring and should be the betting favorite. However, you can’t rule out Francis Ngannou as his power can end a fight at any moment.
Hopefully, more information will be released soon. I’m surely hoping Fury’s belt is up for grabs.