Francis Ngannou describes the intensity and pressure of training with Mike Tyson, hoping to learn from Tyson’s techniques in his upcoming fight against Tyson Fury, while also dismissing any mind games or annoyances caused by Tyson’s presence.
Francis Ngannou opens up about the daunting experience of being cornered by the legendary Mike Tyson for his upcoming fight against Tyson Fury. Despite his age, Tyson still possesses the intense warrior spirit that once struck fear into the heavyweight boxing division. Ngannou describes Tyson’s style as focused on volume and pressure, emphasizing the impact of his training with the former champion. Even after just two sessions, Ngannou found himself sore the following day, a testament to Tyson’s unwavering intensity.
In his prime, Tyson’s ability to apply relentless pressure and maintain a high volume of punches was one of his greatest assets. Ngannou hopes to absorb some of that technique as he prepares for the most significant fight of his career, his showdown with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Interestingly, Ngannou’s decision to have Tyson in his corner could be perceived as a psychological tactic in the fight game. While Ngannou himself does not play into such mind games, he is unperturbed if others draw their own conclusions. If Fury finds Tyson’s presence annoying, Ngannou simply brushes it off as his opponent’s problem.
Ngannou expresses his lack of concern for what irritates Tyson Fury, believing that it comes with the territory of being in a combat sport. He acknowledges the complexities of the fight game, where allegiances and emotions can become entangled. Despite this, Ngannou remains focused on his own performance and the task at hand. As a significant underdog, Ngannou bears the weight of defying expectations and potentially dethroning Fury, who boasts an impressive record.
Some online commentators initially mocked clips of Ngannou’s training sessions with Mike Tyson, and even Fury’s father questioned its legitimacy. However, Ngannou has assembled a team consisting of Tyson, his MMA coaches Eric Nicksick and Dewey Cooper, as well as a boxing coach from his home country of France. Among them, Tyson possesses the most experience and authority, raising hopes that he may hold the key to a colossal upset in the fight against Tyson Fury.