Everyone is asking the same question: Will this be the crossover fight that finally sees an MMA man upset the established boxer?
And very nearly everyone is giving the same answer: No.
Over the last several years, we've seen this story play out enough times that most fans are jaded as to the likelihood or even possibility of Ngannou pulling the upset. Most notably, Mayweather vs McGregor showed the combat sports world what to expect when a top-tier UFC guy takes on a boxing superstar in the squared circle.
Does Ngannou have a chance? Of course. Anybody has a puncher's chance, especially a guy who possesses, as Teddy Atlas calls it, the "great equalizer": power. The question is whether or not Francis Ngannou will be able to connect his power with Tyson Fury's chin, before Fury does the same to him.
And all indications say: No. He will not have that opportunity. And that is why Tyson Fury is such a heavy favorite. The guy knows how to box. He knows the fine art of the sweet science, and he also happens to have a world-class chin.
How do you connect against a guy like that, a heavyweight champion of the world, in your very first boxing match?
I think there's only one way Ngannou pulls it off: the element of surprise. If he goes in with an unexpected strategy, perhaps an overly aggressive style or a slick combination involving well-executed feints, he may get the clean shot he needs. But Ngannou seems like the kind of guy who wants to face you and beat you straight up, be the stronger man, not the slicker man, and so again, the answer for Ngannou fans is: No.
My prediction is Fury by TKO in 6.
UPDATE: Fury Wins a narrow split decision victory after getting knocked down by Ngannou in the 3rd round! Ngannou outboxes Fury in some rounds. Wow.
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