24 October 2023 , 11:29
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Francis Ngannou has dismissed Tyson Fury's claim he's a "fat pig" when comparing the pair's physiques ahead of Saturday night's crossover fight in Riyadh.
The two world heavyweight champions from MMA and boxing will square off this weekend in Saudi Arabia, and first went head-to-head back in September for a launch event in London. And despite the fact that Fury is flabby and claims to have ballooned up to 350lb between fights, he is a heavy favourite for the fight.
Ngannou is shredded and remains in shape year-round, but has never boxed before and is expected to only have a puncher's chance on Saturday. And he acknowledges that gap in skill, claiming Fury is just trying to get in his head by claiming to be "fat as a pig" ahead of their showdown.
In an interview with Top Rank Boxing's YouTube channel, Ngannou said: "He has a lot of downsides, he's really good at distracting people because when you look at him he really doesn't look like the guy. He must be playing a mind game to be saying 'oh look at me, look at my stomach, I'm a fat pig'.
"No you are not, I have seen him, I have been ringside watching him and I'm like 'how can this be possible?' But you're watching it... When I think about something, I go after that thing, I don't care what it is that will come in my way. I put all my focus on that thing, not the obstacles, and I move forward.
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"I know that even if I fail I will learn from it, the most important thing for my is to identify what I want, focus on it and put everything behind that decision.:
Ngannou later echoed those sentiment during an appearance on The MMA Hour, adding: "He was just trying to distract me and make me lower my guard. He was like, 'Oh I'm a fat pig' and all this, I'm like 'no you are not, you are the best heavyweight boxer out there' and I am going to be working seriously to come face that man, not the physique."