Written by Francis Ngannou | Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Francis Ngannou is siding with his old rival to get one back on Saturday.
The former UFC champion and current PFL star is in Saudi Arabia for this weekend’s big boxing event headlined by a heavyweight championship rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. In their first meeting, Usyk defeated Fury via split decision in an incredible battle.
Prior to his blockbuster fight with Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title in May, Fury faced Ngannou in a pro boxing bout, where “The Predator” nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in boxing history—even dropping Fury in the bout. In the end, Fury won a decision.
Ahead of Saturday’s matchup, Ngannou was asked to predict the victor for Usyk vs. Fury 2.
“I think Fury,” Ngannou told Seconds Out. “Not that I’m taking Usyk out, respect for Usyk basically for what he had done for their first fight. … He proved me wrong, I’ll admit that. I was wrong on that one, but I still see it for Fury.”
After nearly shocking the world, Ngannou went on to face Anthony Joshua in March, and was brutally knocked out. Ngannou went on to make his PFL debut in October at Battle of the Giants, where he destroyed Renan Ferreira for a first-round TKO.
Ngannou has said repeatedly that he wants a rematch with Fury in the squared circle. If that were to happen, the powerful knockout artist says he wouldn’t change much.
“I don’t know, just trying to do the same thing that I did, but better,” Ngannou said.