October 28: Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou Saudi Arabia Showdown: Get ready to lighten those wallets because at a whopping $79.99, it’s clear the real fight might just be between you and your bank account!
By V.S: For the affordable price of just $79.99 (I know, it’s a steal, right?), you can witness two of combat sports’ largest personalities throw punches in the desert sun. Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury, our beloved WBC and lineal heavyweight boxing champ, is prepping his fists for a clash of the ages against MMA heavyweight supremo, Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, Oct. 28. It’s the spectacular launch event for Riyadh Season, which, if you didn’t know, is basically the Coachella of the Middle East but minus the flower crowns.
This battle of muscle and sweat is brought to you by the trio of Queensberry, Top Rank, and GIMIK Fight Promotions and will be streamed into your living room live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV. So, if you’re in the US and have that $79.99 handy (seriously, think of all the tacos you could buy!), you can catch the fight live on ESPN+ PPV from 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
And if two titanic humans trying to dismantle each other wasn’t enough, the PPV undercard, aka the “all-heavyweight bonanza,” is also here to get your heart rate up:
First up, we’ve got the undefeated British lads, Fabio Wardley (16-0, 15 KOs), and David Adeleye (12-0, 11 KOs), throwing down in a 12-rounder that’s guaranteed to have more drama than a reality TV show. These two had a spat that turned into a full-blown red carpet rumble during last month’s Fury-Ngannou presser in London, leaving Wardley looking like he walked into a door… repeatedly.
Next, former heavyweight world champ and Fury’s gym buddy, Joseph Parker (32-3, 22 KOs), is set to square off against Canadian human wrecking ball Simon Kean (23-1, 22 KOs) in a 10-round fight that promises more action than a summer blockbuster.
Don’t blink, because Arslanbek Makhmudov (17-0, 16 KOs), the mountain of a man from Montreal, Canada, will be trading leather with the ever-dangerous Junior Anthony Wright (20-4-1, 17 KOs) over 10 rounds. Wright’s stepping in for Agron Smakici, who apparently had better plans.
And keep an eye on Moses Itauma (5-0, 3 KOs), the UK’s 18-year-old answer to the heavyweight division, who’ll be showcasing his skills in a six-rounder likely to make you feel like you’ve accomplished very little in life.
About Riyadh Season:
Every winter, Saudi Arabia’s capital transforms into one of the globe’s grandest stages for entertainment. Riyadh Season burst onto the scene in 2019 and has since been luring in people worldwide like a magnet, offering a smorgasbord of concerts, sports shindigs, food fiestas, and a cultural melting pot of experiences. 2023’s edition is opening up on Saturday, 28 October, with what else but an earth-shattering fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.