Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou – Press conference LIVE: ‘Battle of the Baddest’ fighters come face-to-face for the first time ahead of clash in Saudia Arabia TipTechBlog
Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for all the latest as the ‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou hold their first press conference ahead of their super fight set to take place in Saudi Arabia later this year.
Here we go…
…some random bloke is thanking some other random blokes before we can begin. Get on with it!
Ngannou’s adviser comes onto the stage, followed by promoter Bob Arum and Frank Warren.
All quiet on the Western Front at the moment…
The live coverage from the media bods on the red carpet has stopped and we’re now just waiting for the press conference to begin…
They’re keeping us waiting at the moment!
Hopefully it won’t be too much longer.
Ngannou has Tyson in his corner… will he be similarly explosive in the imminent press conference?
Hopefully we’ll find out immimently…
Nearly there…
Everyone’s sat down and waiting expectantly for the next ridiculous thing Tyson Fury is going to do.
Will he dress up as Batman?
Will he say something offensive (again)?
Will he square up to Ngannou?
Stick around to find out…
CONFIRMED: Wardley cut and bleeding
Their fight was just about to be announced on the undercard. Both spoke to the media on the red carpet and the needle between them so far has obviously boiled over.
Breaking: IT’S ALL KICKING OFF!
Tyson Fury jokes ‘that fight has stolen my thunder – I’ll have to have a word!’
That’s one why to promote a fight.
Breaking: FABIO WARDLEY IS CUT!
It’s all kicking off on the red carpet. Fabio Wardley has received a cut after a scuffle with his future opponent David Adeleye!
Tyson Fury in the house!
He’s wearing an absolutely horrendously loud suit. At least he won’t get run over.
He says: ‘There’s always pressure. But I THRIVE under pressure!’
How are you going to deal with Francis?
‘KNOCK HIM OUT!’ Cheers for the tactical insight there, Tyson.
‘Is that why you’re taking this risk?’, Tyson is asked.
Hahahaha. What a joke. If Fury wanted to take a risk, he’d fight an actual boxer, for example Oleksandr Usyk.
Easy for him to lob insults at the Ukrainian – who holds three heavyweight title belts to his ONE, by the way, while facing a non-boxer in a boxing ring. He’s taking the massive payday knowing there’s no risk Ngannou lays a glove on him.
His boxing career, in my opinion, is essentially over already. He obviously doesn’t want to fight Usyk so he’s just taken the Floyd Mayweather route of fighting people he knows he’ll beat to pad his record and earn wads of cash before he retires.
Rio Ferdinand speaking out…
The Man United legend is discussing the upcoming press conference and he reckons it will be respectful.
Knowing Tyson Fury, I can’t imagine that. He’s going to try to get under the former UFC star’s skin.
Rio points out the obvious – all the pressure is on Tyson.
T-minus 10 minutes!
Around 10 minutes until the press conference gets underway!
Undefeated Brit Fabio Wardley in the mixed zone at the moment…
Ngannou: Tyson won’t get ANYTHING from me!
‘He won’t get ANYTHING from me (in the press conference).
‘(Training) is very different. You start feeling your shoulders, my shoulders are sore.’
‘Why should there be pressure on somebody? At this point in life, I’m living the dream. The only pressure that is on me is to give everything. I’m good.’
(On Mike Tyson being in his camp) ‘I’ve learned a lot of things. To have him this time around… he’s not here just to watch, he’s here to help me, giving me instructions. It’s Mike Tyson, I’m not tripping, this is real!
‘That’s how big this is. He’s the best that has ever lived, he has a lot of respect for Tyson Fury as a fighter but he’s in my corner. He’s chosen his side! There are a lot of things I’m learning from him.’
Joe Joyce bullish ahead of Zhang rematch
British heavyweight Joe Joyce, towering over 5ft 5ins Northern Irishman Carl Frampton in the interview section, insists he can win his rematch against 40-year-old Chinese boxer Zhilei Zhang.
They face off on Saturday September 23.
Joyce adds he’d potentially be keen for a crossover fight like Fury v Ngannou. And speaking of which…
Plenty of stars on the red carpet…
Former The Only Way Is Essex cast member Mark Wright and former Wycombe Wanderers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa are currently having their say on the fight on the red carpet.
In case you were wondering…
I wouldn’t want to get into the ring with big man Bayo to be fair!
Hello and welcome to tonight’s ‘Battle of the Baddest’ live blog!
Here we’ll be covering the Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou press conference tonight!
