Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury is no longer a pipe dream.
It’s happening.
After months of debate, discussion, and uncertainty, Ngannou has a mega-boxing match against the consensus best heavyweight boxer in the world today.
News of the officially set 10-round professional rules bout Oct. 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was announced by the parties involved Tuesday – and the combat sports world had plenty to say about it.
Scroll below to see what people from MMA, boxing and beyond had to say.
Mike Coppinger
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou will fight on Oct. 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sources told ESPN.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman didn't respond to a text message asking if Fury's heavyweight title will be on the line. The rules and number of rounds are unclear at this time. pic.twitter.com/shxhaqvjt8
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 11, 2023
Francis Ngannou
Never doubt a man with hope and faith.#FuryNgannou | 10.28.2023 | #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/44pfCQgGgq
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) July 11, 2023
PFL
UNDISPUTED LINEAL CHAMP vs UNDISPUTED LINEAL CHAMP! LFG
[ via TW//@MikeCoppinger | 📸 via @espn ] pic.twitter.com/XIXAf8k0SB
— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 11, 2023
Chamatkar Sandhu
This man went on one hell of a journey and produced one of the greatest stories in combat sports history. Very happy for Francis Ngannou's upcoming pay day. Fair play 🫡 #FuryNgannou pic.twitter.com/iVE2pnUrJa
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) July 11, 2023
Saidyokub Kakhramonov
Get the bag https://t.co/5VDGp8t4Dh
— Saidyokub Kakhramonov (@SaidYokubMMA) July 11, 2023
Gaston Reyno
Ganan los dos, Tyson Fury la pelea 🥊, y Francia Ngannou la bolsa de su vida 💰
— Gaston “Tonga” Reyno (@gastonreyno) July 11, 2023
Ariel Helwani
Please don’t let this announcement distract from the fact that the name of Ngannou’s new fight promotion is …
GIMIK Fight Promotions.
😅
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 11, 2023
Mike Bohn
Hard to find much room for criticism here. If you think Francis is going to get smoked, then cool, but the structure of the contest is pretty ideal for the fans. https://t.co/xQ1fPGAAmR
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) July 11, 2023
Luke Thomas
This moment was made possible by the fighter lawsuit that compelled UFC to put expiration clauses in fighter contracts at the time Francis Nagannou signed them.
When we think about what news actually matters in MMA and where the lion’s share of coverage goes, remember this day. https://t.co/aMIGxcRDMB
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) July 11, 2023
Belal Muhammad
😨whoa https://t.co/6oharuicgW
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 11, 2023
Frank Warren
Who is the baddest man on the planet?#FuryNgannou set for a blockbuster clash on October 28th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/7G6lr5UjZE
— Frank Warren (@FrankWarren) July 11, 2023
Kyle Nelson
Looks like it's official! Who do you guys think wins? I'm happy Francis is getting a big payday but I can't see him beating Tyson. pic.twitter.com/ZUoazHeklC
— Kyle The Monster Nelson (@THE__MONSTER) July 11, 2023
Anatomy of a Fighter
Mannnnnnn I’m so happy for my bro @francis_ngannou and @Marquel_Martin . Bet on yourself ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/euSWilfrN0
— Anatomy of a Fighter (@WillHarrisAOAF) July 11, 2023
Nolan King
Mannnn, Francis did it! We can now all definitively agree he played his cards correctly, right? The bags have been secured. 💰💰 https://t.co/EM1EjnpzYJ
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) July 11, 2023
Ben Fowlkes
Where those people at who kept saying Francis Ngannou was fumbling the bag and should go beg the UFC to take him back? Awful quiet now that he got that Tyson Fury fight.
— Ben Fowlkes (@benfowlkesMMA) July 11, 2023
Marcel Dorff
Happy for Francis. 😁👍 https://t.co/ABLcnKT3Lz
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) July 11, 2023
Caposa
We all know anything besides Fury-Usyk is BS. We know Francis has little to no chance in this fight. But you do have to recognize the unique opportunity here. You’ll never see a lineal UFC HW champ in this position again. It was now or never. Glad it *seems* to be full rules. https://t.co/OwjtNCSShW
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 11, 2023
Sean Madden
https://t.co/IhnHe4uwyp pic.twitter.com/VXt7lTdx3F
— Sean Madden (@SeanM_Striking) July 11, 2023
Aaron Bronsteter
Expecting some absolute bangers to drop soon 😆 pic.twitter.com/JyaJcsFpFp
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) July 11, 2023
Eric Nicksick
Ngannou vs Fury 10•28•23 #fumblerecovery 🧾🤫@francis_ngannou @DeweyCooper @Marquel_Martin @RandallAnthony_ pic.twitter.com/UIQYsd4wAx
— Eric Nicksick (@Eric_XCMMA) July 11, 2023
Matthew Wells
Major.
All the criticism, all the BS Francis had to deal with, and he’s doing the damn thing.
Bravo, @francis_ngannou. https://t.co/Tqi3gZTtYn
— Matthew Wells (@MrMWells) July 11, 2023
Tyson Fury
The Baddest Man On The Planet 👑
What will be done in the kingdom will echo around the world 🥊 🇸🇦 @francis_ngannou #GameChanger #RiyadhSeason #FuryNgnannou pic.twitter.com/z6Ruk40YsZ
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) July 11, 2023
Are you ready @francis_ngannou!? #BADDESTMANONTHEPLANET #RIYADHSEASON pic.twitter.com/D0B3IxFkR7
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) July 11, 2023
Cris Cyborg
Happy to see @francis_ngannou prove this is prized fighting.
— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) July 11, 2023
Donn Davis
Francis Ngannou made his plan, stuck to his principles, ignored negativity, and secured all he wanted …
MMA World Champion ✅
Control His Destiny MMA ✅
Massive Boxing Payday ✅
Chairman PFL Africa ✅
Ownership PFL ✅
Respect ✅Congratulations Partner! #PFL #PFLMMA
— Donn Davis (@DonnDavisPFL) July 11, 2023
Danny Segura
Francis Ngannou’s gamble paid off.
The man is getting exactly what he wanted from fighting out his UFC contract. This is wild. https://t.co/qzeHz7kjRn
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) July 11, 2023
Peter Carroll
Power move from Big Fran. This and the PFL deal, that’s some pretty sweet negotiating since the UFC exit. https://t.co/LApb4Es7Zn
— Peter Carroll (@PetesyCarroll) July 11, 2023
Top Rank
WHO IS THE BADDEST MAN ON THE PLANET? 🌎 Find out Oct. 28.
🇬🇧 @Tyson_Fury vs 🇨🇲 @Francis_Ngannou#FuryNgannou | 📍 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/lBMIpLpPv7
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 11, 2023
Egis Klimas (Oleksandr Usyk's manager)
The biggest joke ever in boxing!!! I am sorry it’s not boxing it’s circus @Tyson_Fury becoming from positive person in boxing to negative joker in circus https://t.co/VYeOwxq0dt
— Egis Klimas (@KlimasBoxing) July 11, 2023
Billy Quarantillo
Glad i never mentioned any fighters fumbling any bags 🤷🏻♂️ gotta let these things play out ya know
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) July 11, 2023
Mike Jackson
That's funny. https://t.co/eJ4gQvpDHt
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) July 11, 2023
MMA Junkie reaction video
With Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury now official, @mma_kings and I give our instant reaction to the Oct. 28 boxing match and discuss how much we should *really* care about this thing. https://t.co/a7cITVjzmg
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) July 11, 2023
Josh Gross
One more thing, if you were dumb enough to suggest aloud, parrot others, or even think to yourself that Francis Ngannou was running scared from anyone, please take the L and turn it into a Lesson. Be a better person than you were yesterday.
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) July 11, 2023
Terrance McKinney
🫡
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) July 11, 2023
