Francis Ngannou: Preparing for Tyson Fury fight with Mike Tyson & more | ESPN Ringside

ESPN’s Brett Okamoto sits down with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou ahead of his boxing match against Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
0:00 Were there ever doubts you’d get the fight?
3:47 Timeline of getting fight signed
5:15 Won’t learn a lifetime of boxing in a few months
9:18 Transitioning from MMA to boxing
12:00 Working with Mike Tyson
15:19 Tyson’s biggest advice
19:34 Fury’s theatrics and distractions
21:44 Is there any outcome that could hurt your career?
27:05 What would be left after beating Fury?
#FuryNgannou #Boxing #ESPN
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[@PrimeV88]

For someone who couldn’t speak a word of English just a few years back Francis’s command of the language is impressive. Just goes to show his level of competence and commitment.

[@AlterBug]

Agreed.

[@stevendransfield8787]

Love his attitude and personality. So calm and down to earth, no arrogance at all. It's a breath of fresh air, especially when you see where he came from to get here.

[@dutchinfluencer]

You can not hate this guy, he's humble and always motivated.

[@FraserRidley]

He really is

[@recklessgameplay9988]

ok

[@ramonbriones4487]

We dont tho lol

[@chipchiperson679]

Nobody gives a shit, they want to see if he’s for real in a boxing ring but all indications point out that he’s going to get obliterated by Tyson Fury for trying to cash in on an easy paycheck.

[@leonelfonju9884]

​@chipchiperson679 you sound salty

[@Username-gk3eh]

For a man who has taken risks all his life , leaving the ufc and hoping for bigger fights won’t matter . What an inspiration Francis is .

[@martincaldwell6029]

I am a massive boxing fan, I have boxed internationally and have had 65 fights and I am also a second Dan black belt in karate competing in the European and World Championships. Ngannou impresses me and I like his attitude. I think this fight is very interesting and it’s not a foregone conclusion. Good luck Ngannou you deserve massive respect. Martin Caldwell

[@flintldan]

karate is a fake steven segal martial art.

[@orange_penis]

Good bot!

[@user-bp2th1oo1y]

Happy having a legend like u commenting with us sir; my respect. So can I search about u in KZbin?

[@stevendransfield8787]

​​@user-bp2th1oo1y I believe its Steven Seagal in disguise. Sorry, i of course mean Sensei Seagal

[@dogpoofairy2517]

You would beat Ngannou. Ngannou has zero actual fighting experience in the boxing ring, which puts him at a severe disadvantage against any experienced boxer. It's the mismatch of the century.

[@RicoCharles84]

People should really listen to what Francis is saying! Especially about his Mindset and not limiting himself💯💪🏽

[@oldironsides4107]

In a physical competition your mindset doesn’t mean shit when you’re inferior in every aspect of the game. I guess if the other guy is doing coke for months and drinking and laying on the couch he would have a punchers chance. Tyson could lay around for 5 years and Nganou could train every day for 5 years and fury would still beat him in a boxing match.

[@leonelfonju9884]

​@oldironsides4107 mindset is everything. If you don't have the right mindset in everything you do you've already failed.

[@markends3993]

That’s our spirit from Cameroon. As a law enforcement officer in America and given my short stay in the United States, colleagues can’t believe. We learn really quick, strong mindset and we don’t care if we make mistakes along the way but we are determined to go through the toughest times yet to come. Am so proud of myself when I looked at my background.

[@oldironsides4107]

You shouldn’t enforce laws in a country you’re not even a citizen in. That’s insane. and what kind of shot department would do that? You can’t work in a factory but you’re pretending your a police officer and a non citizen ?.

[@MikeyMe93ST]

You're a cop who doesn't care if you make mistakes along the way? I'm pretty sure that's a job you can't afford to make mistakes in.

[@snookmeister55]

​@@oldironsides4107You don't understand green cards or naturalized citizenship.

[@oldironsides4107]

@@snookmeister55 No county should allow a guy with a green card to enforce laws. It’s insane if he was employed in law enforcement. That should definitely change.

[@snookmeister55]

@@oldironsides4107 I'm not arguing but consider that the feds are pursuing a case against SpaceX for not employing green cards. No kidding.

[@safescubadivingwithanis]

For such a powerful and successful individual, he's very humble

[@jacquohubeau]

en général les gens fort n ont pas besoin de faire pleins de cinéma….. il nous montre le jour venu regarde overem qui et un très bon combattant et puissant a force de parler samedi soir tu feras dodo lui avait juste dit francis ko

[@SamiNami]

If he wins, it's the best story of all time.

[@karlbautista2675]

4:17 Francis almost looks digitally manipulated next to this interviewer lol what a beast

[@DavidBeckett-xz4lh]

Love Francis. What a Champ. I believe in him. He can do it.

[@mahmoudghandour3981]

Francis is enjoyable to listen to, you learn at least one thing from him in every interview.

[@stevendransfield8787]

Imagine having your boxing debut against the undisputed world heavy weight champion 😅 Mad respect, he's a winner either way !

[@XBlack-oc6xt]

Sure but it's not as if he's not a former champion himself. It's boxing debut but it's not his first fight, and MMA HW are mostly punches

[@Dagnaldinho]

Yeah would be crazy, shame he is only fighting a world champion not a undisputed one.

[@stevendransfield8787]

@@Dagnaldinho my bad

[@marcusmarcus7972]

Francis Ngannou, with your confident the universe is with you and you will surely come out victorious on 28th October 2023. You are in the process of re-writhing Boxing History. May all the devine forces of the universe re-energise you to achieve your heart desires.

[@calishiiine0006]

Amen brother

[@stevenglenn4498]

Francis’ gonna make boxing history!!! He’s gonna beat Tyson 💯💯💯

[@SakbuinJoseph-el7nb]

The story of this brother is a motivation for our present generation ❤

[@gentlelondon9410]

This is an excellent interview !!!!

[@ricksteamboat8051]

Humble n kind yet a beast.

[@user-qh8rn4wz6j]

your motivation and your positivity as a person is so amazing....i am learning so much things from you champ....thank you man.

[@boxalarmtrading]

One of the things that we can learn from these champions is that their work ethic is impeccable. You don’t get to where he is without being extremely disciplined, organized and continually trying to be better. Us normies should adopt this attitude with the things in our life as well. Let’s go be champs fellas 💪🏻

[@JasTheKariol]

I consider myself and a lot of people I know much more focused, organized, hardworking and ambitious than him. What separates us from him is that his profession can generate 10 million in a single night, and that is just how humans value things today.

[@boxalarmtrading]

@@JasTheKariol I hope you and the people you know are also at the very top of your chosen fields like Francis. Take care.

[@mccarthyroderick]

So true!!

[@mccarthyroderick]

Never really heard him in an interview! I have to say, very impressed with him as a human being!

[@MrStraightGangsta]

If he some how wins this fight over any other will genuinely become legendary and remembered for hundreds if not thousands of years

[@oldironsides4107]

lol. Thousand of years in a sport. Bame allmof those pankratiom stars from the first Olympics. How many years ago you suppose that was?

[@jameshickey1294]

Well Francis won the people 2nte. Judges in boxing again gona be the headline

[@dtruth5769]

RESPECT TO TYSON FURY FOR KEEPING HIS WORD ON FIGHTING FRANCIS

[@eltoro7229]

You got to like the guy, so humble and calm!🥂🙏

[@leoonthego474]

Bret is a great interviewer, always cool and relaxed. Win or lose Francises life is a success story and when he said listen to Bret you know who’s coaching him 😂✊

[@oldironsides4107]

Yeah I like how he asks generic questions that eveyone knows the answers too And he’s chill and relaxed. And being Chill and relaxed and generic is what I like about his style. and he’s chill and relaxed as well as relaxed and really chill

[@xDOOM95]

@oldironsides4107 cry more pu c

[@BijouBakson]

thk u 4 the inspiration

[@orlandoambus6936]

I just recently learned of this guy and his story . What an awesome guy . I wish the best for him

[@jahworx]

A kind, laid back, violent man!!!!

[@R36_Passat]

I hope he can light a fire in his belly for next week. He seems so calm and humble. As someone else said,..you can’t help but like him. He’s so grounded for potentially the hardest guy on the planet. I really wish him well and pray he can do the rounds and quieten fury down a notch or ten. Good luck Francis. I think you can do this. 🥊🥊💯👍🙏🏻

[@BRICKWALLBOYZ]

Inspiring

[@eyongnoah3162]

bro we are behind u

[@Wingspans84]

This guy is a amazing man humble and sweet ❤in the ring a beast pray he beats fury and his dream comes true he deserves this ❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@enekembuagbaw8200]

Wishing Francis all the best on fight night

[@nikolaiboxing-ql8vg]

fans of fury this is ufc world champion this guy can destroy everyone I’m with Francis team

[@kevinsamuelsghost685]

If Dana White would actually pay his fighters what they're actually worth then they wouldn't have to do stuff like this but Francis has no shot against Tyson but hopefully he gets a hefty bag from this fight

[@ebejale]

A great boxer doesn't always translate into a great coach.

[@oldironsides4107]

Well no shit. That goes for any player in a sport. Tyson is doing this to promote the fight and get paid. And be a face for it. Tyson won’t even be in his corner. Tyson has sold the shittiest products and out his name on anything for a dollar for 30 years.

[@maleekHolla]

How about now

[@sisilianmuki7226]

He has humility 😍❤

[@metal1999]

Humble guy good luck

[@besmart2350]

Francis won the fight against Dana White.

[@RemingtonMiles-sr9uf]

Dana's "I don't do gimmick fights, but Jones vs Fury is a good fight to make" dumba** must feel really stupid as a businessman. He could've made lots of money off of Francis like he did Conor in a boxing match and STILL keep him under UFC contract. Now he can't reap any of the benefits😂

[@teacopem]

​@RemingtonMiles-sr9uf he offered him great money francis still left

[@besmart2350]

@@teacopem but put sneaky small font clauses in the contract

[@mariumrajah]

Go on son Go for it

[@groovetraxxxgingerbreadman1282]

Francis has way better boxing skills than what folks think and you'll see it when he and T.Fury fight. Francis started boxing at 18....he just turned 38 last month. That's 20 years. He used to be the No1 sparring partner for former top 15 HW Carlos Takam and was Joe Joyce's No1 sparring partner when Joyce fought Daniel Dubois.

[@NeWayMan70]

😂😂😂 he sparred Joyce once and definitely wasn't his number 1 sparring partner

[@NatureNavigator783]

20 years to look so bad and slow? Damn..

[@oldironsides4107]

Well Shit I stepped on a boxing gym at 12. And I’m 40. I’m the best in the world

[@groovetraxxxgingerbreadman1282]

@@oldironsides4107 Stop acting like a D@CK!

[@dco1019]

he started out boxing but his trainers thought he would be better suited for mma though.

[@safwan4072]

Ik furys chin and head movement is crazy but body shots from ngannou well times would set up so good shots i can see a sceniario in which ngannou can win

[@joejunemusic1988]

Whose in charge of lighting these videos Fire that guy!

[@iconfitness8252]

True humble gentleman ❤

[@arielgerardservillon3200]

visualization to manifestation. highly intelligent and insightful fighter.

[@hassanal-mustapha1321]

Both Francis and the guy interviewing him, look and speak like gentlemen

[@REDANDSILVER741]

Dana extending the blacklisted contract on Brett. Keep doing your thing Brett!

[@Trebleblues]

I hope he can make it competitive.

[@MrRino48th]

If it goes the distance naw 😂 but I feel like he has a fighting chance

[@jeanremilas5834]

Let's go champ ❤❤❤❤ respect

[@kapoto1942]

Let's go Nganou

[@daniel_moretti]

He has the most reassuring voice

[@dontaylucero]

Surprised ufc let brett do this

[@teacopem]

Wdym let hes independent contractor

[@starboy_power]

Francis has Cristiano vibes coming off him, humble yet confident in his ability to achieve greatness.

[@joelzhrangchal2528]

Humble giant. How can you hate Francis.

[@Hito856]

In addition to his power ngannou is also a great athlete. More agile and coordinated than deontay. More than a punchers chance.

[@aledjohope]

I can hear Fury saying, " I am gonna press him until he loses his calm."

[@sisilianmuki7226]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@jeremiahtalley1936]

Let’s go Francis! Shock the world !

[@nikeshdhakal4197]

lets go champ my bro francis.

[@omarmukhtarTV]

Boxers have stamina on another level. These MMA superstars' stamina shuns in 5th round

[@noahatuto2]

Just rephrase.....5th round MMA is 25 minutes and 12 rounds boxing is 36 minutes. I thought I should remind you.

[@worstxb1playertylerteehc635]

Well he wins the personality fight against Fury already. Another reason I'd like to see this Guy succeed.

[@jasonbaldini]

I remember Tyron calling out UFC heavyweights back in Cain and Lesnar early era, so he started this. We’re talking 2010.

[@charliebacca8170]

If he's gonna get drawn into a boxing skills show like what happened with Joshua and Usyk,This fight with Fury is gonna be over sooner than people believe?

[@Playeriyo20]

17:13 Soo true , fighting is an instinct also called talented if you are not talented for fighting and you don't have that fire in you like you are made for fighting you won't acomplisha nything doesn't matter how tecnical you are, you need to have that fighting instinct burning inside you that makes you feel unstoppable that makes you even enjoy fighting and also enjoy reciving punches abd bleeding in a fight that's why fighters use to hug or cheer after a rought fight that they received a lot of damage is like damn I am here for all of it and I love it

[@michelmauricefortin6554]

ce genre de sportif ne peut pas perdre... parce qu'il tire partie de toute éventualité / bonne chance à cet homme discret qui ne se perd pas en paroles inutiles.

[@DarkStar-wu9nq]

Francis This is my first boxing match Francis It was hard to transition from being a boxer to MMA …… 😂😂😂

[@gibs2b]

What is hard to understand ? He has started to train for boxing and Fernand Lopez asked him to do MMA which was something very weird for him. So he has learnt MMA and became a champ and now he want to do what he wanted at the begining. so it's his first boxing match and it was hard for him to switch from what he wanted to do at first (boxing) to MMA.

[@Xingupumpkin001]

My Goal is not only win My goal is go there and prove to people that i can box wow❤❤❤

[@ryanhobbs7929]

If his ability to learn English is of any indication, he's a fast learner.

[@blackgamer1]

Francis is the Ali of mma

[@adeyemioluwatomi9852]

Beyond his power....this dude is cerebral

[@ryanhobbs7929]

I hope Francis has a good showing. That by itself would be a victory. And I hope the money doesn't deplete his hunger for MMA supremacy. UFC heavyweights will want to fight Francis for that big win and that seven-figure payday in the PFL…sort of like when Fedor was lurking out there. Fighters left to pursue him. UFC champs like Lesnar and Couture wanted to fight him. So either more UFC heavyweights fight out their contracts to fight Francis, or they get paid better by the UFC. That's pretty cool. Francis is a hero to other fighters in MMA and that shouldn't be lost on any of us.

[@tonynewman8586]

What a nice guy - He must be doing it for the money / it’s impossible for Francis to beat fury

[@djoffawestwest1103]

✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿

[@BostonManny617]

He gonna win I can see it

[@FS02TER]

Ngannou is obviously a great fighter but hes going to be in the ring with an absolute master boxer in Tyson Fury. Tyson will be in complete control of the fight.

[@user-bi1yw1du7q]

I'm not really interested in crossover/youtube fights anymore. So obvious who's going to win.

[@patricknez7258]

LG Francis 🔥

[@crazypato3752]

2:50 Francis speaking FACTS

[@fredp1983]

Brett is great.. lets them talk... GO FRANCIS!

[@VVtos174]

Ngannou looking extra special

[@duncanapiyo6412]

He is so calm and collected, I think Fury is worried 😅 go go Cameroonian

[@KevinHernandez-qz8sb]

Fury really using this guy as a sparring match to prepare for Usyk. 🤣

[@josecampos9717]

It is pretty hilarious right? That’s why fury is amazing he’s just having fun

[@kevinlewis8162]

you can laugh all you want.....but francis is laughing all the way to the bank!

[@zackromone190]

he sparring partner way better than ngganau, he is sparring jai opetia

[@draco2xx]

tune up😂

[@kararal9834]

​@@draco2xximagin fury breeding a tun up two fight in a row 🤣🤣 fury such a. Duck

[@TM-NTM]

🐐

[@patiencegabiro]

Is it me or is it cool hearing Ngannou talk??

[@Strangingness]

From a fan of both MMA and Boxing. Who actually wants Ngannou to win because of Fury's antics. I believe he has as much power as Wilder, but with any hand and any shot. He's physically strong like Joshua. But all that muscle and power, not only becomes lessened in later rounds in MMA from what we've seen he strongly benefits from winning early although he's always dangerous he's less so as the fight goes on. But in Boxing with more rounds and just non stop punching and moving around on the feet, and lack of experience in Boxing will mean he'll gas out in like 4 - 6

[@markends3993]

I really agree with you, time may play down on him and furry will take advantage. U r very right, this is my thought too

[@gibs2b]

Dude, his power is equal to ford escort launched at full speed. so imagine you have a car launched at 180km/h that hurt your arms ? so even when he is going to punch Fury's arms (or other parts of his body) it's going to hurt him... Believe me...

[@aurora_gypsy1524]

" I believe he has as much power as Wilder": I believe instead that Francis has way more power than Wilder. Look at his legs and the whole body structure

[@jesuz8147]

@@gibs2bdude that was ufc marketing to make him sound like a big bad wolf. Boxers fight in bigger gloves imagine them fighting in small gloves like mma😂 oof they’ll knockout anybody

[@teegees]

Is Brett ok?

[@ramonbriones4487]

Nice interview. Funny how Bret didnt even entertain the topics wen we all know Francis was talkign about dana and the ufc in holding him back or "sabotaging." Hes like yea no im gonna keep going.

[@lebadass]

Bet Dana is pissed with Brett😂

[@feindyjanvier9619]

Tyson is helping him fight Tyson

[@Nellz1157]

The Greatest heavyweight of all time??? GTFOH THE narrative being painted of Fury is incredible 😂😂😂😂

[@burdman1333]

Right? Fury wouldn’t stand a chance in the golden era. Lennox Lewis, Holyfield, mike Tyson, riddick Howe, James toney, Roy jones jr… they would all make fury disappear like he never existed 😂

[@bumface1810]

Greatest ducker of all time maybe.

[@Nellz1157]

@@burdman1333 foreal Atleast I’m not the only one hearing this BS being pushed to the masses guy is a joke bro

[@sannyahmed359]

The Prdetor🇲🇾🇵🇸💥

[@AutoimmunityEurope]

Is KO aloud? Will it be an exhibition only?

[@teacopem]

What?

[@AutoimmunityEurope]

there were talks that it will be only an exhibition at the beginning, but then, to now downplay the event, they avoided saying. tyson has a match 2 months after, the title is not on the line, so the fight could be just a demo and fighters will not be allowed to hurt each other, just like Roy jr and Mike Tyson. if it's actually like this and they will tell everyone probably ppl will watch that sparring only months after, so they pimp it up like is for real. doesn't seem for real but I hope it will be for real, no clear answers yet.@@teacopem

[@donjon8352]

Unknown boxer is dangerous

[@sonatine-on6is]

I hope he wins, but honestely speaking I doubt it.

[@Craigyboi01]

I still can't even say fury vs ngannou in a exhibition without laughing 🤣🤣

[@Aggyoko]

Hmmm… sorry bro. Check if your medical insurance covers that

[@Craigyboi01]

@@Aggyoko yeah because a exhibition against a mma fighter who's not boxed a second in a pro fight is so much more beneficial to real boxing fan's I mean who wants to see the champion defend his belt against boxers who pay sanction fees . You're probably a simple yank who's a fan of ufc 🤣🤣

[@Aggyoko]

@@Craigyboi01 It’s not an exhibition. It’s like Floyd vs Conor. That wasn’t an exhibition, it went on their professional boxing record. You probably have comprehension issues along with laughing issues. You’re probably a hyena!

[@suhailshaikh8529]

​@@Craigyboi01 Francis will double leg him and take him to the ground, don't laugh

[@savagevidz149]

Additional comment: Why has no previous HW boxer against FURY...tried NONSTOP to punch the 6'-9" FURY ...punch his guts out. If FRANCIS wanted to take FURY out...with gut shots...with all that power...he could. He would have to be willing to take punches..and focus on that big LONG solar plexus.

[@mrmiyagi7388]

Fury establishes that lead hand very early and is active with it, it stops people coming in and hitting his body, if you get to the body you can definitely cut him down he had abused his body for years with alcohol and drugs

[@teacopem]

Make better sentences

[@TheOnly1JLDN]

Tyson won't gas out he knows how to use his energy I hope he is training for 12 rounds

[@Xiomi20021]

Why are they sitting so close(

[@dhuhj3598]

He looks even bigger than when he was in the ufc

[@k.o.t.h]

Rooting for Francis as the massive underdog but think he's falling into the same trap as other crossover fighters in trying to prove that they can box. Fury has seen it all let alone a novice style, fighting an mma fighter style maybe the only chance he has of landing that KO shot.

[@ace.9218]

What long path did he take to get here, as the reporter states. How many professional boxer did he fight in the Heavyweight division to get here???🥊🥊👈🏻🤛🏽👊🏻✊🏿

[@WillD-jj9kg]

Apparently he's going for the same technique as KSI vs Tommy Fury 😂

[@RunForPeace-hk1cu]

KSI almost won 😂😂😂😂