TMZSports.com
Francis Ngannou is guaranteeing Tyson Fury will “hit the canvas” in their upcoming fight … telling TMZ Sports that one of his punches will send the heavyweight champ crashing to the ground.
The former UFC star made the proclamation while outside LAX this week … two months before he steps into the ring against the undefeated Fury (33-0) in Saudi Arabia.
While he stopped short of ensuring it will be a KO — he told us it wouldn’t shock him if that ends up being the case.
“He’s good at coming back up,” Ngannou said. “We gonna find out how good he is — but he’s gonna hit that canvas.”
While it might seem unlikely — it is, after all, Ngannou’s first-ever pro boxing bout and Fury is still at the top of his game — the MMA fighter has been taking the fight very seriously. He said he’s been studying Fury extensively … and he’s also been training with Mike Tyson.
“I’m super ready,” Ngannou told us. “I’m very excited about that fight. I’m getting ready. From Saturday, we’re 9 weeks out, a good amount of time to get those hands fast [and] strong.”
As for what’s in the works following the Fury tilt … he told us his next fight will be in early 2024 with the PFL — an org. that he signed a multi-fight deal with in May.