Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou face off ahead of fight
Tyson Fury’s father John took centre stage during his face-off with Francis Ngannou ahead of this weekend’s crossover bout in Saudi Arabia. Fury, who has not fought since knocking out Derek Chisora last December, will be the heavy favourite to win against former UFC champion Ngannou as he looks to extend his unbeaten professional record.
The two fighters went face-to-face at their final press conference on Thursday but it was John who stole the show with a bizarre display which saw him get in on the action. He marched up alongside Tyson for the face-off after taking his shirt off but went past him at first and stood looking at Ngannou before he was held back by security.
The 59-year-old also squared up to Mike Tyson, who has been training Ngannou for his professional boxing debut against Fury. Iron Mike repeatedly chanted “and the new” during the press conference, which managed to wind up John to the point of calling out the heavyweight legend for a fight of his own.
He leapt out of his seat to address Tyson directly, saying: “Here I am! Any man alive wants to fight John Fury. I’m here and ready to go. Mike Tyson, what have you got to say to that my brother?”
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Tyson initially swerved the question, focusing on the fight at hand, before John jumped in again to add: “Let me tell you my brother, the world is going to see what happens to your man. Your man will get his head boxed off and stopped at will my pal, don’t you worry about that. And if I’m wrong you and me will fight right after. Me and you will fight no matter the result.”
John appeared to be deadly serious about fighting Tyson and backed up his claims in a later interview with Fight Hub TV, saying: “Why not? If he wants it, I want it. The great Mike Tyson, he’s a legend. I respect the man. Let’s not get confused here. I’ve got a lot of respect for Mike Tyson, he’s a legend.
“I’ve named my boy after him, but for me to be in the same room, at the same table, doing what we’re doing, it’s an honour for me. If I can share the ring with him at some time or another, it’s the icing on the cake of my life. What a story, what a movie.”
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John has gained a reputation for overshadowing his fighters with his antics at press events after doing so on many occasions in the last few years. Earlier this month, he made headlines during the face-off between Tommy Fury and KSI by repeatedly punching the glass panel separating the two fighters after flipping a table as part of a frenzied rant in their final press conference.
He was also the main talking point during the build-up to Tommy’s win over Jake Paul in February after launching a verbal tirade in the direction of the YouTube star. He aimed a number of sexually explicit jibes at Paul’s girlfriend before doubling down by insisting that he meant every word, saying: “What I said, I said.
“When you listen to the graphic stuff Jake Paul is saying about Tommy’s girlfriend which isn’t nice, the girl was very upset by it and I think my emotions got the better of me. These things happen in life, but do I regret what I said? No, I don’t.”
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