BY BOXINGSCENE STAFF August 7, 2023 Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
Hall of Fame trainer Teddy Atlas acknowledges that former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is a dangerous puncher, but he also explains that it doesn't mean anything if he's unable to land a big shot.
On October 28 in Saudi Arabia, Ngannou will make his professional boxing debut against WBC world champion Tyson Fury.
Their non-title encounter will be contested under traditional boxing rules. To better prepare for the fight, Ngannou hired former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson as trainer.
Coincidently, Atlas is a former trainer of Tyson.
There is not enough time to make Ngannou a solid boxer, but Atlas does believe the MMA veteran can be given the right bag of tricks to have the capability to connect with a big shot.
“Listen, you have got to be practical, you have got to be real about it,” Atlas said on ESPN’s “DC & RC.”
“What does that mean? that means you’re not going to make him (Ngannou) a better boxer than a guy who’s been boxing since he’s a kid all his life in Tyson Fury, you’re not going to do that. But I tell you what it doesn’t mean, it doesn’t mean that you don’t teach him fundamentals. You give him basic fundamentals. “Why? ‘His only chance is to land a big punch and he’s a big puncher, maybe he can do that!’ He can’t land the big punch, I don’t care if he punches like freaking Godzilla, it doesn’t matter unless he has a delivery system, enough fundamentals. We’re not fooling ourselves, he ain’t going to get to Fury’s level but enough fundamentals, enough tricks, give him a couple tricks in the bag, to land that big punch.”
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