Former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, has shared his thoughts ahead of his upcoming eevnt with WBC title holder, Tyson Fury.
And despite his world-famous power, the 36-year-old is confident that he can outbox the undefeated ‘The Gypsy King’ and win the spectacle on the scorecards.
Ngannou is renowned in the MMA universe as one of the most devastating punchers in the history of the sport, recording ten stoppage wins in his eleven victories in the Octagon, seven of which were in the opening round and all of them coming before the third.
However, in an interview with TMZ Sports, the Cameroonian explained that he will enter the ring with the intention of outboxing Fury and not being over-reliant on this infamous punch power.
“Well, you know, I have some knockout power, but you would be crazy if you walked into a fight against someone like Tyson Fury, just counting on knockout power. I’m going there to box, I’m going to walk into this fight as a boxer and I’m impressed to see how many people are counting me out of this.”
“It also gets me excited, it’s one more thing that they keep doubting me and as usual, I will keep proving them wrong about this, I’m walking in there as a fighter. I’m not walking in there because I have a strong punch and yes, I can connect with it, I’m walking in there to fight, in case this fight goes to a decision.
I will still expect to win, even by decision, I want to be prepared and win that fight, because it will cement my position as a boxer. I’m not an MMA fighter that is crossing over, as if power is the only thing that I have, that is not true.”
Ngannou will meet Tyson Fury on October 28 in Saudi Arabia, in a bout which he says will be an official professional contest.