Mike Tyson believes Tyson Fury is trying to play mind games with Francis Ngannou ahead of their crunch meeting on Saturday, but believes the ‘composed’ MMA star will not be phased by the WBC heavyweight champion’s trash talk.
The pair will meet in their huge ‘Battle of the Baddest’ crossover fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia tonight, with the Gypsy King telling TNT Sports that he was going to ‘smash Ngannou’s face in’ ahead of the fight.
The two came face-to-face during Friday’s weigh-in, with Fury also mocking Ngannou’s ripped physique, calling him a ‘little man’ before leaning into the MMA star’s face, before laughing and pretending to run away from him.
Speaking on the 35-year-old’s antics, former undisputed heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson gave his assessment of Fury’s behaviour.
‘It’s psychological,’ the 57-year-old told MMA Junkie on Friday. ‘Tyson likes to get in your head,’ he added while speaking at the red carpet gala ahead of the fight.
Mike Tyson believes Tyson Fury is trying to play mind games with ‘composed’ Francis Ngannou
The former heavyweight champion believes that they are not getting to the MMA superstar
Tyson is one of several big names set to be ringside for the bout, with illustrious guests including Cristiano Ronaldo, Eminem and Ronaldo Nazario also said to be in attendance.
Fury, meanwhile, has been bounding in excitement ahead of the fight, but interestingly called out the UK government for not showing him the same level of gratitude and special treatment that Saudi officials had shown him this week.
The Wythenshawe-born fighter had also sensationally called for his father, John, to fight Tyson, claiming that the bout would make ‘five-million pay-per-views’.
But Tyson sees through Fury’s trash talking, and when asked whether he thought the WBC heavyweight champion had gotten to the MMA star, he said: ‘I don’t think so.
‘He [Ngannou] is very polite and very composed all the time, very sophisticated and respectful. He’s a different kind of fighter. I’ve never experienced it before as far as his demeanour.’
Tyson is one of several illustrious names set to be ringside for the ‘Battle of the Baddest’ clash with Ronaldo Nazario (L) expected to be in attendance
While the odds are against Ngannou, who will swap the Octagon for the boxing ring for the first time in his career, he will be a formidable opponent for Fury and possesses an insane level of power.
The 6ft 9in British fighter does possess a longer reach, but Tyson gave his opinion on how Ngannou can win on Saturday night, urging the MMA start to come out swinging.
‘Be aggressive, use the jab and come forward,’ Tyson said.
‘In this particular fight, he’s the small guy. As far as height, he’s the small guy. He’s gonna have to be aggressive.
‘He can punch to the body, and he wouldn’t have to stand up. He can punch to the body and fight the taller guy (like that).’
