24 October 2023 , 12:13
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Francis Ngannou has accused John Fury of "playing a character" after he labelled the former UFC champion's technique as "embarrassing".
Ngannou makes his boxing debut on Saturday as he challenges heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to kick off Riyadh season in Saudi Arabia. Fans were able to get a glimpse of Ngannou's skills last month at an open workout in Las Vegas as he trained with ring legend Mike Tyson and MMA coach Dewey Cooper.
Fury's dad John gave a scathing assessment of the workout by saying: "I've just seen Francis Ngannou and Mike Tyson - and that so-called trainer that's got the pads on. I've seen the open workout, I hope he's kidding along and he's playing possum here. I hope that's a joke and intended to be a laugh, because if it's not, he ain't got a prayer, he ain't got a cat in hell's chance.
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"He won't get out the first round, it's probably gonna be Tyson's quickest knockout. It's gotta be kidology that, it's gotta be fun and games. If that's what he's got, God help him, he'll get smashed to bits. That's embarrassing. If that's what he can do on a public workout, don't bother doing a public workout. It's a disgrace."
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Ngannou has now responded to John's comments by telling Boxing Social : “As they say, like father like son. In this case, I don’t know. Like son, like father? They are just being them, they can say anything. Personally, I don’t care so much about what they think or say. I believe they are playing a character and that they’re actually nice people. I let them play their game and do my stuff, we find out on Saturday."
Ngannou hasn't fought since tearing several knee ligaments in his final UFC title defence last January. The knockout artist has been in the gym for more than three months training for Fury and admitted there were lots of things he needed to work on given his lack of experience in the ring.
Many boxing purists are only giving Ngannou a puncher's chance against 'The Gypsy King' but he is confident in his chances of outboxing the unbeaten Brit. "I believe, not to say it's going to be very tough. Either way it's going to be very difficult because Tyson is very smart and experienced as a fighter. I do have more chance knocking him out then winning a decision, but I still believe that can happen."