WASHINGTON D.C. — Francis Ngannou tipped Mike Tyson to destroy Jake Paul once they commerce leather-based November 15 on the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Ngannou and Tyson skilled collectively for one camp forward of the previous UFC heavyweight king’s boxing debut in opposition to Tyson Fury final yr in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Although Ngannou regarded one-paced throughout exercises World Boxing Information attended in Las Vegas throughout the build-up to the crossover combat, he appeared to have bamboozled all people, together with Fury, when he boxed far faster and extra competently October 28, 2023, to shake up the fight sports activities world when he knocked the Brit to the ground, albeit en path to a break up resolution loss.
Ngannou returned the next March to tackle Anthony Joshua however acquired destroyed inside two rounds in one of the vital spectacular thrashings AJ had ever administered.
An October return to MMA is on the playing cards as he debuts for the rising group Skilled Fighters League (PFL) in opposition to Renan Ferreira.
At a press convention in Washington D.C., World Boxing Information requested Ngannou concerning the classes he discovered from Tyson forward of his two-fight stint in boxing and whether or not he may apply any of that to his placing in MMA.
“I did practice with Mike Tyson, and that was for one combat, my combat in opposition to Tyson Fury,” he advised WBN. “Boxing is a totally completely different sport to blended martial arts … the appliance of the whole lot.
“It’s very laborious to take one thing,” he thought of. “Sure, perhaps you may get some velocity, some readability in your goal. That can enable you to in MMA.”
Tyson suffered a medical emergency mid-flight in Could, elevating considerations about his well being forward of a high-profile combat with Paul, who’s 31 years youthful than he’s.
Talking later to reporters, Ngannou, regardless, picked Tyson to “beat” the PFL ambassador’s “a**” once they competed in an eight-rounder the next month, unconcerned about well being or age differentials.
“He’s undoubtedly not as he was when he was younger, however when he strikes round and exhibits you one thing, I’m like, ‘What the hell is that this.’ So I believe that’s one thing that individuals don’t perceive about Mike Tyson. His footwork remains to be there.”
On an asset that would befuddle Paul, Ngannou mentioned: “He can nonetheless transfer out of your left to your proper within the blink of a watch.”
The Ngannou vs Ferreira combat tops a PFL PPV Tremendous Struggle Division combat card in October, and it’s part of the PFL universe that Paul was introduced in to assist construct, and champion.
Alan Dawson is World Boxing Information Lead Author, a 2 x Sports activities Journalist of the Yr finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Comply with Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
