Francis Ngannou is in the late stages of his second professional fight week but has still had a moment to send a threat to Tyson Fury and say ‘you are nothing in front of me.’
Many people in the boxing world have warmed to the new star that is Ngannou. The former UFC champion speaks softly and humbly but when it comes to fighting he is as hard as they come.
He proved that in his boxing debut in October when he was not in any way out of his depth against Fury, a lifelong boxer, undefeated fighter and WBC and lineal world champion.
He managed to knock The Gypsy King down and keep him relatively quiet across his 10 rounds and only narrowly lost on points. Many predict him to win by KO this Friday when he returns to the ring for another huge challenge, two-time world champion Anthony Joshua.
The two big men have traded a number of stern words in the build up to the fight with both promising to come out on top. Whoever does stands a good chance of getting a shot at the winner of the undisputed fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on May 18.
Ahead of that at a press conference before the fight, Ngannou has fired a warning to Fury who was sat in the front row, as captured in a clip shared on X by Queensbury.
“Your only chance is in the boxing ring with the boxing rules. When you step off that ring you better stay away. Because if I lose it you’re going to have a really bad time my friend.
“Respect the fact the rules of boxing are protecting your arse. Without that you are nothing in front of me. I beat you every day, and twice on Sunday.”
They are the most direct words Ngannou has spoken and suggest he is very much ready to fight this weekend.