BOXING will get the Super Bowl or Champions League final treatment when Saudi Arabia ramp up their involvement in the ring this weekend.
The main event features Tyson Fury, the recognised leading heavyweight of this era, taking on zero-fight boxing fight novice Francis Ngannou, the former UFC champion, in a non-title 10-round contest.
The British Boxing Board of Control are sanctioning the event’s undercard – which actually takes place in a smaller adjacent arena – but aren’t involved in the main event.
Largely because the boxing is inconsequential to the event.
The show kicks off the fourth incarnation of Riyadh Season, an annual six-month entertainment and sports festival which runs from October to March in the Saudi capital.
Before Fury and Ngannou walk to the ring – which will rise from underground, naturally – fans inside the Kingdom Arena will be treated to a plethora of entertainment, with acrobats, and gymnasts operating around live musical performances.
Eminem and Coldplay are both rumoured to be on the bill!
BATTLE OF THE BADDEST
Fury vs Ngannou is a captivating headline. The best heavyweight in boxing taking on the best heavyweight from MMA. But that’s not entirely accurate.
Fury, 35 and unbeaten 34 pro fights, is as frustrating a heavyweight champion as he is an accomplished one.
The Gypsy King’s record is punctuated with incredible performances sterilized by easy nights under the bright lights against hand-picked opposition.
Tyson Fury defeats Derek Chisora by TKO in round 10 to complete the trilogy fight, how tough is Derrick Chisora? pic.twitter.com/tD5MC3sXc2
— Fight King (@BestFightKing) October 22, 2023
Meanwhile, Ngannou may have left the Octagon with ownership of the UFC belt, but his 17-3 MMA career includes a couple of occasions when he was outboxed and outfoxed.
One of those losses arrived against Stipe Miocic, the most successful heavyweight in UFC history, who was due to fight Jon Jones – MMA’s GOAT – in New York in two weeks before the latter picked up an injury.
Francis Ngannou puts Stipe Miocic to SLEEP!
Crazy KO power! pic.twitter.com/EMcNc3QeRV
— MMAValour (@MmaValour) October 23, 2023
In reality, Ngannou is no higher than the third best heavyweight in MMA. But let’s not get too hung up on semantics.
WHERE’S USYK?
The fight we all want to see, of course, is Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk, the Ukrainian who outclassed Anthony Joshua twice to affirm his place at #2 spot besides Fury.
That’s the fight that will add to Tyson’s legacy. That’s the fight that could see him become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.
If we first have to watch Tyson beat up an opponent not fit to be employed as a sparring partner, then let’s get it out of the way and try to enjoy it.
Unfortunately, boxing once more gives way to entertainment this weekend. Fury has the ability and ring IQ to end this fight as and when he pleases.
Ngannou should roll the dice, throw as many Hail Mary punches as possible and wing away until he can punch no more. But rumours of him taking a boxing approach are as futile as they are ridiculous.
Fury can beat up Ngannou inside a ring as easily and comprehensively as Ngannou could beat up Fury inside a cage.
Expect a couple of rounds of slipping and sliding, jabbing and jousting just to justify the Saudi site fee before Fury decides to plant his feet and pick his finish.
NICK’S TIP
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