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Tyson Fury v Francis Ngannou will be broadcasted exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office in the UK. Fury, the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, will fight former UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 28 October.

On Saturday 28th October, fight enthusiasts in the UK and Ireland will experience a unique spectacle. Tyson Fury, the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, fights Francis Ngannou, former UFC heavyweight champion exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office.

The eagerly awaited fight is set for 28 October in Saudi Arabia, during Riyadh Season, the yearly entertainment and sports festival. The reigning WBC heavyweight champion, Fury, defends the WBC title he’s been holding since 2020. On the opposite side, Ngannou steps into boxing, leaving the octagon behind for the squared circle.

Fury will step into the ring for the first time since he defended his title against Derek Chisora in the presence of 60,000 fans at London Stadium in December 2022. Emerging from a hiatus, The Gypsy King showcased a stellar show, clinching the victory by TKO in the 10th Round. Spanning nearly 14 years in boxing, Fury’s record stays unblemished after 34 fights.

After departing UFC in January 2023 with the heavyweight champion title to his name, Ngannou’s concluding fight in the organization resulted in a win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270, decided by unanimous decision. With 17 victories and a mere 3 defeats in his decade-long career, this transition from MMA marks Ngannou’s boxing initiation in Riyadh. Banking on his octagon experience, the Cameroonian-French fighter steps into the boxing realm. Ngannou is recognized for holding the ‘World’s most powerful punch’ title since 2018.

To catch Fury v Ngannou, viewers in the UK & Ireland can tune into BT, Virgin Media TV, and Sky or stream it online through the web or the TNT Sports Box Office App. A subscription to TNT Sports isn’t mandatory to access this event.

Fighter Quotes

Tyson Fury

“I’m truly honored to step into the ring with Francis. Just look at the guy; he’s a mountain and in prime condition. Honestly, it’s a twist for me. I’ve always been about boxing my peers, aiming straight for the win. Yet, with an MMA fighter like Francis, bringing his own flair, it promises to be a distinct experience.”

“I’m all in, ready for what promises to be a spectacular event. Sharing this platform with Francis? It’s an honor. His journey, his battles, his sheer grit and everything he’s invested to stand here? Respect.”

“Francis deserves every bit of praise. As a fighter, as a champ, as a person. Given his strength and intensity, I know I need to be at my absolute best. That means going all out in training and sourcing the best sparring opportunities.”

Francis Ngannou

“The excitement I feel right now? Unmeasurable. I’ve harbored this boxing dream since childhood. Today, I’m not just boxing – I’m squaring up against a giant. I usually stay zoned out from the noise, but the sheer scale of this? Hard to ignore. This is a moment for the books.”

“Though I always had the dream, I never imagined it unfolding like this, morphing into one of the globe’s most watched events. This isn’t merely a fight; it’s the curtain raiser for the Riyadh Season, blending culture and combat. As for the fight, it’s only going to grow in magnitude. While the outcome remains a mystery, one thing’s crystal clear: I’m gunning for victory, and nothing less.”

Bob Arum

“It’s not just another event; it’s a global sensation. Its ripples are felt strongly in the U.S., where MMA’s fanbase has swelled, and where Francis is nothing short of iconic. Tyson’s commendable U.S. performances over the years have cemented his sports legacy. Their collaboration? It’s sparking an electric wave of excitement across the country.”

Frank Warren

“Without a doubt, this is monumental. The grandest event I’ve ever been a part of. It’s an intersection of domains. On one side, a master of his craft, the heavyweight champion. On the other, Tyson Fury, a man who’s defined boxing excellence. Undefeated, skilled, versatile – whether it’s strategic boxing or a straight-up brawl, it promises to be an unforgettable spectacle.”

Preview

By Charles Brun: Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren says the October 28th event against Francis Ngannou is NOT an exhibition match, but he’s unsure whether it will count in boxing records for their clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In other words, it sounds like it’s an exhibition match. It will be interesting to see how long before the organizers wait to reveal to the fans that Fury vs. Ngannou is not an official boxing match. The longer they wait, the more it will sell.

If they tell the fans now that it’s just an exhibition, that’ll be the equivalent of spraying repellent on the event, killing what little interest there is in this trainwreck-level monstrosity. Letting the fans know it’s just another bank heist exhibition match is not good.

The Fury-Ngannou fight would have to count in the record book if it’s not an exhibition match.

Fans aren’t keen on watching exhibition matches because they typically have slow-motion sparring-type fights, where the fighters are taking it easy on one another, joking with the crowd, and showboating. There’s absolutely no sporting value in exhibition matches.

It’s two guys playing around, and boring fans, leaving them angry & feeling ripped off for their money. In the case of the Fury vs. Ngannou fight, even if it’s not an exhibition match, it’s basically the same thing because Francis has never fought a boxing match before.

Sticking an 0-0 fighter from another sport in with Fury makes it an exhibition type of fight. If Fury doesn’t take it easy on Ngannou, he’ll knock him out too quickly, and the fans will be furious with anger, feeling foolish for having wasted their hard-earned money.

Warren told Talk Boxing that Fury’s WBC title wouldn’t be on the line for the fight, which makes sense, considering it’s a 10-rounder.

“Why did we make the fight? Because we tried to make the fight with Oleksandr Usyk, we tried to make the fight with Anthony Joshua, and neither of them wanted to know,” said Warren to talkSPORT.

Fury could have fought IBF, WBA & WBO champion Usyk if he had offered him a fair deal instead of the joke terms. Tyson could have fought Anthony Joshua, but he blew the negotiations out of the water by setting a short deadline, which he didn’t do for his friend journeyman Derek Chisora.

There were tons of options available for Fury to fight, but he wanted the Ngannou match.

Fighters Fury could have fought:

• Zhilei Zhang
• Felip Hrgovic
• Joe Joyce
• Andy Ruiz Jr
• Arslanbek Makhmudov
• Frank Sanchez