TYSON FURY and Francis Ngannou’s crossover clash is set to bring the boxing and MMA worlds together.
The pair of heavyweight superstars meet this Saturday in Saudi Arabia with legacies on the line.
GettyTyson Fury and Francis Ngannou ahead of their crossover clash[/caption]
A loss for Fury would prove disastrous while an Ngannou win would be the mother of all upsets.
But with one punch able to change it all, experts have been divided on their pre-fight predictions and here SunSport runs them down….
Oleksandr Usyk
Fury, 35, has already signed to fight Usyk, 36, after his spectacle showdown and the Ukrainian is not sweating ahead of the weekend’s result.
He told his YouTube channel: “Yes, Ngannou is a UFC champion, I’m not disputing it. But UFC isn’t boxing.
“I’m 100 per cent sure that Tyson Fury will be victorious. If Ngannou relatively has a puncher’s chance, and if he hypothetically happens to send Fury tumbling to the canvas, I’ll concede talking gibberish.”
Prediction… Fury with ease
REUTERSFury and Oleksandr Usyk have signed to fight each other[/caption]
Mike Tyson
Ngannou, 37, hired the help of the legendary Mike Tyson during his training camp and he has the full backing of the boxing icon.
Iron Mike told the Daily Mail: “He has what it takes to knock out anything or anybody standing in his way.
“Once he lands a punch on Tyson Fury’s jaw he is going to knock him out too. Nobody can survive that.”
Prediction… Ngannou for the shock KO
AFPMike Tyson has coached Ngannou during his training camp[/caption]
Amir Khan
The British boxing hero is out in Riyadh for the fight.
And he is giving Ngannou a puncher’s chance but can’t help but give Fury the edge.
He told TNT Sports: “Realistically, Fury is going to win because he’s going to win because he’s the boxer, but Ngannou has got the puncher’s chance in this fight.”
Prediction… Fury win
Amir Khan is backing Fury in Saudi ArabiaRichard Pelham / The Sun
Michael Bisping
Bisping is a legend of the UFC but that did not stop him from giving a brutally honest prediction.
He said on the Eventful Lives Podcast: “Ngannou is going to get battered.
“That is no disrespect to Ngannou, Ngannou is incredible, as UFC fighter he was very good, but he can’t box with Tyson Fury.”
Prediction… Fury by domination
@mikebispingMichael Bisping thinks Ngannou will lose to Fury[/caption]
Jake Paul
Paul has admiration for Fury despite his loss to brother Tommy, while he is also partnered with Ngannou under the PFL banner.
So it is no wonder he told TNT: “I’ve fought all of these MMA fighters and none of them have been able to do anything against me.
“Tyson is going to bring the smoke but Francis has that one-punch knockout power so we’ll see if he can land on Tyson. It’s going to be a good fight and I’m excited for it.”
Prediction… Sitting on the fence
@jakepaul Fury is on good terms with Jake Paul[/caption]
Stipe Miocic
The ex-UFC champ is tied at one apiece with Ngannou and despite missing out on the trilogy, he wished his old rival well.
Miocic told the New York Post: “Listen, he’s onto bigger and better things. On paper, Tyson Fury is one of the best boxers of all time, amazing at what he does but Francis hits really hard.
“It’s a fight, anything can happen. I wish him nothing but the best. I hope he shocks the world.”
Prediction… Hoping Ngannou shocks the world
ReutersStipe Miocic twice fought Ngannou[/caption]
Derek Chisora
Del Boy has one of the best insights on fighting Fury – having lost to him three times – and he knows the Gypsy King is susceptible to a knockdown.
Chisora told SecondsOut: “That’s a big fight.
“Tyson is going to win it, but I think Tyson is going to get dropped by Ngannou.”
Prediction… Fury but only after getting up from the deck
GettyFury with old rival Derek Chisora[/caption]
David Haye
Haye has been known for his wild prediction but he believes Fury should be more than capable of beating Ngannou in his own time.
He said to SecondsOut: “I think Fury is good enough to make it entertaining, or he could go out there like he did with Deontay Wilder the second time and just smoke him.
“I’d like him to drag it out six/seven rounds, bust him up and show why there is a difference between professional boxers and MMA fighters.”
Prediction… Fury by stoppage whenever he decides to
Fury has the backing of David HayeRichard Pelham – The Sun
Eddie Hearn
The rival promoter is in no doubt Fury will walk over Ngannou and questioned how it is being sanctioned.
He told SecondsOut: “It’s a total mismatch. Can we just have the opportunity to say it’s a 34-fight, 33 won and one draw, heavyweight world champion, No1 in the world against a man who has never put on a pair of boxing gloves in a professional ring.
“And the British Boxing Board of Control are sanctioning that fight between two non British Boxing licence holders in Saudi Arabia.
“The whole thing is a money grab, it’s great entertainment, it’s a total mismatch but it’s going to be a great event. So good luck to them.”
Prediction… Fury whitewash
GettyEddie Hearn called Fury vs Ngannou a ‘mismatch’[/caption]