Boxing great Mike Tyson says he is highly impressed with the skill set of former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou as his student prepares to take on Tyson Fury on October 28 in Saudi Arabia.
Tyson will coach and corner Ngannou in his boxing debut, a move which has captivated the combat sports community.
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In a recent interview with ESPN, ‘Iron Mike’ said, although Ngannou is new to the sport, he was a quick learner.
“He’s had many professional fights, but he’s never experienced a professional boxing match,” Mike Tyson told ESPN.
“But by working with him yesterday, he has the aptitude, and I see a good future in this life.”
Tyson, ‘The Baddest Man On The Planet’, also said the fight would not be one-sided, like many fans predicted.
“It’s not going to be as one-sided as people think it is … But, we’re going to work and we’re going to exert everything he has for this particular match,” he said.
“I definitely believe that it’s going to be a tougher fight than anyone thinks.”
The admission comes only days after the announcement that Tyson would be working closely with the Cameroonian.
“It is no secret I back Ngannou 100 per cent in this face-off of champions,” Tyson said in a statement following the announcement.
“He has one hard punch, and when it lands, it’s game over.
“I am looking forward to working with Ngannou and supporting his transition from the Octagon to the boxing ring.”
Tyson believes Ngannou’s key to victory against Fury will be landing heavy knockout blows.
The 57-year-old former fighter says he will divulge his crucial boxing knowledge to help him get in range of Fury to land those shots.
“The key will be combining his energy and combat skills into his punches and using his agility to move swiftly around the ring then delivering the knock-out blow,” Tyosn said.
“We’re here to win.”
Although having the boxing legend in his camp may be considerably beneficial for Ngannou, many believe it will not be enough to defeat Fury, one of the best boxers in modern history.