The appeal of Fury vs Ngannou is not in the boxing ring but rather the MMA cage
Tyson Fury’s upcoming ten-round boxing bout with Francis Ngannou hasn’t created the level of hype that fight organizers were expecting it would. Ultimately, it’s not hard to see why this crossover bout has failed to grip the attention of fight fans when you consider that Fury is the greatest boxer of his generation yet going up against a man who has never set foot in a ring professionally. Realistically speaking, the outcome shouldn’t be in doubt.
The mismatch in the desert
At least, the latest Fury vs Ngannou betting odds list the English boxer at -1200 to win the showdown in Saudi Arabia, which indicates that this could be a mismatch.
To that end, if you’re betting on boxing in the lead-up to this bout, then you’ll find Ngannou at odds of +700 to beat Fury. The wider point is that from every angle you look at this match, you come to the same conclusion: Fury’s boxing prowess should prove too much for Ngannou.
The Baddest Man On The Planet 👑
What will be done in the kingdom will echo around the world 🥊 🇸🇦 @francis_ngannou #GameChanger #RiyadhSeason #FuryNgnannou pic.twitter.com/z6Ruk40YsZ
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) July 11, 2023
However, there is a way for a fight between these two men to be competitive and break pay-per-view records as the promoters were hoping it would in Saudi Arabia on the 28th of October. The formula is simple – make Fury step into Ngannou’s comfort zone; the brutality of the MMA cage.
Fury bullish about his chances in the MMA cage
This is something that Fury himself has been enthusiastic about having suggested this idea on multiple occasions. While it may seem like Fury is playing with fire by asking his promoters to secure a match-up in the Octagon against a former UFC heavyweight champion, there is reason to believe that the current WBC champion would present Ngannou with a stern test.
As Fury often points out when discussing the likelihood of an MMA contest with Ngannou, the Cameroonian-French fighter is not renowned for winning by way of submission, In total, Ngannou has only ever recorded four submission wins in 17 career victories. In essence, this fight wouldn’t necessarily be in danger of being a one-sided showdown as Ngannou has proven to be more comfortable when trading punches and not looking to take the contest to the mat.
As Fury’s achievements in the ring illustrate, there is no one better in the heavyweight world when it comes to boxing, so he would hold his own in that particular department. The crucial difference, however, is that MMA rules allow for knees and elbows to be used, which would give Ngannou a route to victory.
I have been underestimated and doubted before. We’ll see 📝 #FuryNgannou #CountingChickens @riyadhseason #BattleOfTheBaddest pic.twitter.com/G44GazIGZn
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) September 29, 2023
Unquestionably, Fury would have to add strings to his bow to win this encounter which, tellingly, is something the heavyweight boxer is aware of. Fury recently posted an Instagram story where he was showing off his array of MMA fighting techniques which once again, strongly suggests that the boxer is well prepared to make the transition from the ring to the Octagon.
A box office fight is built on jeopardy
It would of course be a bout that comes with considerable risk for both men but a fight’s appeal lies in the jeopardy involved. Right now, the odds heavily favor Fury in a boxing match against Ngannou but the prospect of an MMA match introduces a new dynamic that would see a far more even contest.
