Mike Tyson has expressed his interest in coaching Francis Ngannou as the mixed martial arts star prepares for his highly anticipated boxing match against Tyson Fury.
Set to make his boxing debut, Ngannou will face the WBC heavyweight champion in a ten-round bout scheduled for October 28 in Saudi Arabia.
Known for his undefeated record in the UFC and his reputation as a devastating knockout artist, Ngannou has earned acclaim for his spectacular wins over fighters like Alistair Overeem, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, and Stipe Miocic. Now, with Mike Tyson potentially stepping in to offer his coaching expertise, Ngannou aims to make a lasting impact in the world of professional boxing.
And while he is one of the most revered fighters in the world, 'The Predator' has previously admitted that he would be seeking some advice from Tyson, in a bid to help him prepare for his bout against Fury.
'I think getting some advice or some training from Mike Tyson would be good,' the 36-year-old said to TMZ Sports.
'I also think of somebody like Lennox Lewis who could be good.
'I love his boxing style, very basic but very sharp and efficient. One-two [punches], all that stuff, classic but very good.
'Yes, one of those guys. We are definitely reaching out.'
The upcoming fight has garnered significant criticism, with some labeling it a 'Mickey Mouse' fight, while others, including Carl Froch, have outright condemned it as an 'absolute load of s***'.
Although it will be intriguing to witness how the MMA fighter performs against the Gypsy King, Tyson Fury is heavily favored to emerge victorious.
However, former unified heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, refuted any notions that Ngannou could be easily defeated by Fury, emphasizing Ngannou's exceptional punching power. This statement from Tyson underscores the belief that Ngannou's strength could potentially make the fight more competitive than some might expect.
'I think anything is possible. He has a hard punch,' the boxing hall of famer said to ES News.
When asked whether he would be interested in coaching Ngannou
“I would like to do that, yeah. That would be cool. I like that,” Tyson added when the prospect of him training ‘The Predator’ was brought up.
It comes after the former unified heavyweight champion had previously given the MMA star a lesson in how to fight the Gypsy King back in 2020.
In a video published online, the youngest heavyweight champion in the history of the sport can be seen delivering a masterclass to Ngannou on how to handle his upcoming opponent.
'He punches long, when he punches like that, he punches long and you've got those short punches inside and in and around and boom, got to hit right here to the body,' Tyson can be heard telling the former UFC fighter. 'Watch how you hit him with the right uppercut.'
Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion, which is why having him on board would prove beneficial. However, Tyson is not known for being a super trainer.