By Jemea Teke Ndumbe
Former boxing heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, is training Cameroon’s Marshall Art fighter, Francis Ngannou, ahead of his big fight with Tyson Fury.
Mike Tyson, a Hall of Famer who was boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion, will be in Ngannou’s corner for the highly anticipated fight against the undefeated lineal and WBC heavyweight champion of the world. The fight happens this October in Saudi Arabia’s capital city, Riyadh.
Tyson brings in over 20 years of competitive in-ring experience to Ngannou, as ‘The Predator’ prepares for the biggest fight of his career.
On his appointment as Ngannou’s trainer, Mike Tyson said: “It is no secret I backed Ngannou 100% in the face-off of champions. He has one hard punch, and when it lands, it’s game over. I am looking forward working with Ngannou and supporting his transition from the Octagon to the boxing ring”.
“He isn’t a combat novice; he is a world champion. He knows how to compete when the bell rings. But the key will be combining his energy and combat skills into punches and using his agility to move swiftly around the ring then delivering the knockout blows where we are to win,” he concluded.
Francis Ngannou, on the other hand, commented: “Bringing Mike Tyson into my training camp is one of the best decisions I can make to prepare for Tyson Fury in the ring at this year’s Riyadh season. Mike Tyson is an idol of mine in the sport.
“His experience and boxing IQ will be important to honing my technique under his guidance to win this super fight. I’ve been waiting this fight for years and now that it is here, I’m focused on fighting the greatest fight of my career and shocking the world on the most epic stage for the fans in Riyadh.”
The mega-fight is one of the richest in history and will take place in regular boxing ring under the standard boxing rules, with three judges ringside adopting the 10-point must system in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s largest City.
The Riyadh season was launched in 2019 and the festival has welcomed visitors from all over the world to experience thousands of concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and other unique cultural events. Riyadh season 2023 starts Saturday, October 28, with a spectacular opening ceremony marked by a historic boxing contest between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.