Tyson Fury: Ngannou’s great puncher trained by Mike Tyson; I’m not the best at what I do because I’m vulnerable

Francis Ngannou offered four words when he was asked Thursday what will happen if he lands a flush punch on Tyson Fury next month.

“Good night,” Ngannou replied during their press conference in London. “Lights off.”

An unfazed Fury acknowledged that he won’t know until Ngannou lands a clean shot on him during their 10-round exhibition October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia whether the former UFC heavyweight champion punches harder than Deontay Wilder or Wladimir Klitschko, the two pulverizing punchers Fury defeated in title fights over the past 7½ years. England’s Fury also reminded Ngannou that he has emerged as the best heavyweight of this era because he mostly avoids punches and has gotten up when Wilder drilled him with devastating shots.

“Listen, the guy’s a big puncher,” Fury told Queensberry Promotions’ Dev Sahni, who moderated the press conference. “You can see he’s very big and strong and very well built. But, you know, I’ve fought big punchers before, like Deontay Wilder, and I even fought the old ‘Dr. Steelhammer,’ Wladimir Klitschko. And the one thing that both of them had in common were they both were massive punchers, but they both couldn’t land it when it counted.”

Fury feels Ngannou, who will make his professional boxing debut, will deal with the same frustration Fury’s defense caused Klitschko in a 12-round fight Fury won by unanimous decision in November 2015. Ukraine’s Klitschko was a 4-1 favorite who had won 22 straight fights and owned at least one world title for 9½ years when Fury upset him at Esprit Arena in Duesseldorf, Germany.

Fury remains undefeated (33-0-1, 24 KOs) almost eight years after his career-changing victory over Klitschko.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Ngannou has displayed power in MMA matches, 12 of which he has won by knockout. The Cameroon-born Ngannou has been especially effective with his left uppercut, yet the 6-foot-9, 270-pound Fury’s upper body movement, very impressive for a boxer his size, enables the WBC champion to slip punches much more often than not.

“It’s OK being a big, strong puncher and hitting a target that don’t move,” Fury said. “But it’s pretty difficult hitting this hand at full power when it’s moving like that. So, you can’t hit what you can’t see. And, you know, I’m not the best at what I do because I’m easy to hit. I’m the best at what I do because I’m the most elusive world champion in history. And that’s facts. ESPN will back that up.

“So, yeah, if [Ngannou] can land it on me, he’s definitely got good aim and he’s been training. I don’t think he can. I don’t think anyone can land it on me. That’s a fact. And if they do, I’ll just get back up. Because I get knocked down, but I get up again. You’re never gonna keep me down. And that’s what it is, so yeah, can’t wait.”

Related Posts

Sir David Beckham hugs Brooklyn in adorable OBE throwback as he delivers ultimate snub

Brooklyn Beckham hugged his football icon dad David Beckham in a sweet resurfaced moment from his OBE as he snubbed his knighthood celebrations in a brutal blow…

Katie Price shocks audience as she claims she kissed footballer ace 17 years her junior

Speaking in front of 300 people on the latest leg of her tour with Kerry Katona, Katie Price revealed who the most famous person she kissed is…

Ruth Langsford breaks silence on ‘new man’ rumours after split from Eamonn Holmes

Loose Women favourite Ruth Langsford has addressed rumours of her ‘new man’ following her split from her This Morning co-star Eamonn Holmes almost two years ago Ruth…

Ore Oduba reveals he’s being treated for porn addiction that started aged nine

Former Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore admitted he is ‘terrified’ to speak out but believes it is the right thing to do as he addresses his pornography…

Josie Gibson pays emotional tribute to Big Brother co-star who died in 100ft fall

Ben Duncan appeared on Big Brother, alongside Josie Gibson, and died, aged 45, after falling from a rooftop bar that was 100ft above the ground View 5…

Marlon Dingle ‘shot dead’ in tonight’s Emmerdale, but the next twist sees fan fury boil over

They are furious after April’s special episode Emmerdale kicked off the first of its three special standalone episodes tonight, focusing on April Windsor finally opening up to her dad,…