Francis Ngannou accuses Tyson Fury of making ring demand for heavyweight fight

21 October 2023 , 16:38

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Francis Ngannou accuses Tyson Fury of making ring demand for heavyweight fight

Francis Ngannou has accused Tyson Fury of demanding the biggest ring possible for their heavyweight showdown.

Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight world champion, will take on the best heavyweight boxer in the world in Saudi Arabia next weekend. And the Cameroonian claims Fury demanded their ring measures 24 feet, the biggest allowed in professional boxing, presumably to force Ngannou to move more than he is accustomed to.

Asked how he will deal with Fury standing at 6'9" but also being so agile, Ngannou told TNT Sports : "I prepared to make him move less, and I know that he asked for the biggest size of the ring possible." Fury interrupted to say: "I didn’t ask for any ring. I’ll fight you in a phone box, no problem.”

“OK,” Ngannou responded. “So, you didn’t ask for a 24-feet ring?” Fury said: “I didn’t ask for any size ring. I’ve not even spoken to the guys. I don’t get involved in the business, but the championship ring is only 20 feet. So, if they’ve asked for a 24-foot, let’s do it in a 20-foot. Easy." "They asked for 24,” Ngannou insisted.

Fury's world title will not be on the line next weekend but the fight will go on both men's records. It will be held over 10 rounds with three judges scoring the bout from ringside. Fury has consistently denied he will enjoy an easy night in the desert, insisting: "I may not be here today if things had gone differently so I never underestimate anybody

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"The media say he has no chance. I say if I go to the boozer and get in a brawl with a drunken guy, if he hits me, he may knock me out so how am I not going to prepare 100 per cent for an absolute killing machine who is trying to take my brains out? I will give Francis the respect he 100 per cent deserves.

“I need to bring my A-game because there is more on the line than a boxing fight. If I lose to an MMA guy, I will never be able to show my face in public again and I will be ridiculed. People will chuck it at me forever. So, if the media want to take it as a joke or whatever, make no mistake I will come into this leaving zero stones unturned. I will come in at my fittest, strongest and at the best I have ever been. If I am not, if I get knocked out, I want people to laugh at me.”

Martin Domin