Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou are set to face each other in a non-title bout on October 28 in Saudi Arabia, and the fight will be recorded in their official records.
WBC officials confirmed to MMA Fighting on Thursday that while the fight is recognized as a professional bout, Fury's championship title will not be on the line. The match will adhere to standard boxing rules.
This fight marks Ngannou's first official boxing match and presents him with the biggest opportunity of his career after his tenure as the UFC heavyweight champion.
When the bout was initially announced, limited details were available, including whether it would be classified as an exhibition or a professional contest. Further information, such as the number of rounds and the glove sizes for Fury and Ngannou on fight night, is yet to be disclosed.
Ngannou's boxing debut poses a significant challenge as he aims to achieve a historic upset against one of the most dominant heavyweight fighters of recent decades.
Fury boasts an impressive record of 33-0-1 throughout his career, with notable victories against renowned opponents such as Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, Derek Chisora, and Wladimir Klitschko.
On the other hand, Ngannou will enter the boxing ring for the first time after departing from the UFC as a free agent at the conclusion of his previous contract. Unable to reach a new agreement with the UFC, Ngannou relinquished the heavyweight title before eventually signing a new contract with the PFL.
Although he is expected to return to MMA in 2024, Ngannou has long desired an opportunity to compete in the realm of boxing, and now he has manifested his bout against Fury scheduled for October. His ultimate goal is to become the first person to hand Fury a defeat in his professional boxing career.