Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury is a foregone conclusion for many. With the crossover-super fight to determine who is the “baddest man on the planet” still over a month away on October 28 in Saudi Arabia, many have written Francis Ngannou off, and for good reason. But will training under one of the greatest boxers of this generation help him conquer this challenge?
Ngannou, who originally wanted to be a boxer when he started his martial arts career, will make his professional boxing debut against not just the heavyweight champion of the world, but also an absolute masterful boxer with historically great skill, ability and fight IQ in Tyson Fury. This is why his training camp is crucial, and he has roped in Mike Tyson to train him. And the Cameroonian revealed some surprising details about their training regimen and how he managed that in a conversation with Joe Rogan.
Francis Ngannou reveals how often he trains with Mike Tyson
On episode #146 of the JRE MMA show, Joe Rogan asked Francis Ngannou when he started training with the former heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson and how often the two train.
“So when did you get involved with Mike Tyson? Cuz I’ve seen videos of you training with Tyson. How much have you trained with him?” Rogan asked ‘The Predator’.
The former UFC heavyweight champion revealed that he trained with Tyson occasionally, whenever the New York native showed up. “Not too much. He comes time to time. Not always. He’s not always with me,” the 37-year-old told Rogan.
Ngannou reveals how he got Mike Tyson to agree to corner him four years ago
He revealed that the wheels had been in motion to bring ‘Iron’ Mike on-board as far back as four years ago, when the Cameroonian had gone on Mike Tyson’s Hotboxin’ Podcast. Ngannou had asked Tyson if he would be in his corner if the Tyson Fury fight would materialize, to which ‘Iron Mike’ agreed.
But if you look like, four years ago, exactly for years ago. And that’s when Tyson [Fury] and I, we started hit each other on social media. And for years ago was the first time that I met Mike Tyson. I was on his podcast, the Hotboxin’. And one request that I initiate was that whenever I fight Tyson Fury, would you be in my corner and he say yes. That’s still on my Instagram… Nobody believed that this could have happened.
Mike Tyson is one of the greatest boxers of all time. He became the youngest heavyweight champion of the world not just because of his ferocity, power, and raw ability, but an in-depth understanding and expertise in the sweet science. And Ngannou would need all of Mike’s expertise and experience if he is to have a chance against ‘The Gypsy King’.