Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou make grand arrivals in Riyadh ahead of blockbuster bout

Heavyweight rivals set for boxing fight in Saudi Arabia on Saturday

WBC heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury poses for photos with his team after arriving in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 24, 2023, ahead of his bout against Francis Ngannou. Reuters

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou ahead of his bout with Tyson Fury in Riyadh. Reuters

Francis Ngannou poses on stage after landing in Saudi Arabia for his bout with Tyson Fury. Reuters

Francis Ngannou conducts television interviews in Riyadh. Reuters

Tyson Fury poses with his team during the grand arrivals. Reuters

Tyson Fury with WBC chairman Mauricio Sulaiman. Reuters

Top Rank CEO and Tyson Fury's promoter Bob Arum during the grand arrivals. Reuters

WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, made their grand arrivals in Riyadh on Tuesday evening ahead of their blockbuster fight this weekend.

Billed as 'Battle of the Baddest', Fury and Ngannou are set to face off in a highly lucrative crossover boxing bout in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Ahead of their showdown, both fighters posed for photos with their team and climbed onto the stage in front of fans and the media.

Fury, unbeaten in 34 professional fights, became a two-time heavyweight world champion in February 2020 when he defeated Deontay Wilder in a rematch after their thrilling first fight ended in a controversial draw. While the contest against Ngannou is an official 10-round professional bout, Fury's WBC title will not be on the line.

Ngannou will enter the ring in Riyadh for his boxing debut having conquered the MMA heavyweight scene. The Cameroonian, known for his brutal power inside the cage, left the UFC last year after winning and then retaining the heavyweight title in his final two fights on the promotion.

Fury, understandably, is a wide favourite and the British fighter is predicting an early stoppage.

“I'm going to knock him out inside six rounds," Fury told TNT Sports. "I’ll get on the front foot, high arm, catch him with a punishing jab, 19/20 stone (120-127kg) in the face. Bust him up, swell his eyes out and bang, KO. On the front foot, not running away.

“No one can take my power, nobody. These heavyweights don’t have a chance.”

Saturday will be Fury's first fight in Saudi Arabia, but he will return to the Kingdom for an undisputed showdown with fellow heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.

While a date has not yet been set, Fury insists he would be ready to take on the Ukrainian WBA, WBO, and IBF champion before the end of the year.

"We've signed the contracts," Fury told Sky Sports. "December 23, that's out there isn't it? It's only eight weeks away from Saturday. Why not?

"I've not even had a fight this year so get two in before the end of the year would be fantastic. Double payday. There'll be a nice big turkey in the Fury household this Christmas."