Top Rank Presents The Combat Sports Crossover Event of the Year: Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou
The combat crossover event of the year features WBC and lineal heavyweight boxing world champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) versus lineal MMA heavyweight world champion Francis Ngannou (17-3, 16 Finishes) in a highly anticipated 10-round boxing match. The long-awaited battle between two giants in their fields kicks off Riyadh Season, a months-long entertainment and sports festival in the Kingdom’s largest city.
The Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV all-heavyweight event will also feature:
- Undefeated British standouts Fabio Wardley (16-0, 15 KOs)and David Adeleye (12-0, 11 KOs)facing off in a 12-rounder.
- Former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker (32-3, 22 KOs), a New Zealand-born veteran who trains with Fury, will fight Canadian knockout artist Simon Kean (23-1, 22 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
- Arslanbek Makhmudov (17-0, 16 KOs), a 260-plus pound power puncher fighting out of Montreal, Canada, will fight the upset-minded Junior Anthony Wright (20-4-1, 17 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
- Moses Itauma (5-0, 3 KOs), Great Britain’s 18-year-old heavyweight hopeful, will see action in a six-rounder against Istvan Bernath (10-1, 8 KOs).
Calling the action: ESPN’s Joe Tessitore, Hall of Famer, Timothy Bradley, Jr., Bernardo Osuna, and Brett Okamoto.
Original Programming:
Prior to Saturday’s event, ESPN will air the original production: Road to Riyadh: Fury vs. Ngannou, a 30-minute all access preview of the upcoming super-event.
Road to Riyadh: Fury vs. Ngannou (All times ET)
| Date | Network | Time |
| Thu Oct 26 | ESPN2 | 12:00 a.m. |
| ESPNEWS | 5:30 a.m. | |
| Fri Oct 27 | ESPNEWS | 6:30 a.m. |
The program will also be available for replay on-demand in the ESPN App, on ESPN.com and on ESPN+.
ESPN.com
From Ali to Inoki to Fury vs. Ngannou, highlighting the biggest crossover fights of all time (Jeff Wagenheim)
Teddy Atlas: How I’d train Francis Ngannou to face Tyson Fury
Thursday: Timothy Bradley Jr.’ s take: There’s a path for Ngannou to upset Fury
Friday: Francis Ngannou’s full circle journey into boxing with Mike Tyson by his side (Brett Okamoto)
ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles
- Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night.
- Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars.
- State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+.
- Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights.
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Fury vs. Nngannou (All Times ET)
| Date | Time | Event | Fights | Platform |
| Thu., Oct 26 | 2 p.m. | Main Event Press Conference | — | ESPN App & YouTube |
| Fri., Oct 27 | 11 a.m. | Weigh-In | — | |
| Sat., Oct 28 | 2 p.m. | Main | Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou | ESPN+ PPV |
| Co-Feature | Fabio Wardley vs. David Adeleye | |||
| Undercard | Joseph Parker vs. Simon Kean | |||
| Undercard | Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Junior Anthony Wright | |||
| Undercard | Moses Itauma vs. Istvan Bernath |