Boxers Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou scheduled for October bout in Saudi Arabia

Boxing champion Tyson Fury and ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou will fight in Saudi Arabia on October 28. The fight will take place in a regulation ring with three ringside judges using the 10-point scoring system. The fight announcement did not specify whether the bout will count on the fighters' professional boxing records or whether Fury's WBC heavyweight title will be on the line.

Boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou are set to face off in a highly anticipated fight on October 28th in Saudi Arabia. The fight, which will take place in a regulation ring with three ringside judges using the 10-point scoring system, is expected to be a major crossover event between the worlds of mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Promoters have not yet specified whether the bout will count on the fighters' professional boxing records or if Fury's WBC heavyweight title will be on the line.

Fury and Ngannou have been discussing the possibility of a fight for over a year, following Ngannou's departure from the UFC. Promotional companies Queensberry, Top Rank, and GIMIK Fight Promotions have partnered with Riyadh Season, Saudi Arabia's state-sponsored entertainment and sports festival, to host the event in Riyadh.

This fight is part of a larger trend of high-profile sporting events taking place in Saudi Arabia, with some experts referring to it as "sportswashing," or using sports to improve a country's public image. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has been making significant investments in various sports, including golf, tennis, soccer, and Formula One racing.

Tyson Fury, who became the unified world heavyweight champion in 2015, regained the WBC heavyweight title in 2020 and is considered one of the top heavyweights in the world. He has a record of 33-0-1 with 24 knockouts.

Francis Ngannou, who recently became the UFC's first African heavyweight champion, will be making his professional boxing debut in this fight. Ngannou has a record of 17-3 in MMA, with 12 knockouts.

The fight between Fury and Ngannou is expected to be a clash of two masters of their craft, with both fighters expressing excitement about the matchup. Fury has described Ngannou as the "hardest puncher in the world" and is eager to test his skills against him. Ngannou, on the other hand, sees this as an opportunity to fulfill his dream of boxing and to establish himself as the "baddest man on the planet."

This fight is just one example of the growing trend of boxers and mixed martial artists crossing over into each other's sports. This trend gained significant attention after Floyd Mayweather Jr's victory over Conor McGregor in 2017. Since then, several boxers and MMA fighters have attempted to start parallel careers in the other sport, drawn by the potential for higher payouts.

In conclusion, the upcoming fight between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou is set to be a historic event in the world of combat sports. With both fighters at the top of their respective disciplines, fans can expect an epic battle that will showcase the skills and determination of these two athletes. Whether it will be Fury's boxing prowess or Ngannou's punching power that prevails remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure - this fight is not to be missed.

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