Mike Tyson has added a certain intrigue to the Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou crossover bout, set for October 28 in Saudi Arabia.
The heavyweight legend is training boxing debutant Ngannou, who will step through the ropes a massive underdog against undefeated champion Fury.
The Brit recently said that it was upsetting the man he was named after is in the opposite corner.
“I think that it’s sad, actually. The man that I am named after, a legend, has to go against me and then come out as a loser, having lost to a man who was named after him. I think that it’s sad and I think that he should be in my corner, not the opposing corner.”
Fury went on to say that if doesn’t matter what the heavyweight legend teaches Ngannou, the result will be the same.
Asked about the idea of going against his namesake by TNT Sports, Tyson had a simple response.
“This is business, and he understands.”
Business indeed. Fury is expected to earn well into the tens of millions for the bout, with Ngannou also making far and away a career highest payday compared to his championship UFC stint.
‘Iron’ Mike believes his man is going to produce a shock come fight night, but the cynical fans will believe it’s just all part of the promotion.
“I think he’s gonna do very well. Listen, it’s all experience, he’s fighting, he just has to remember not to use his feet, which he never really did actually. He’s a real power puncher. Real fast for a big guy, 260. I just think he’s gonna do better than most people believe.”
The pair will fight over ten rounds in a professionally sanctioned bout, but Fury’s WBC World title will not be up for grabs.