Tyson Fury slams 'ungrateful' Francis Ngannou and surprisingly defends Anthony Joshua from 'glass jaw' criticism as he eyes winner

06/03/2024 18:30

Tyson Fury has had a lot to say ahead of 'Knockout Chaos', most notably defending rival Anthony Joshua.

'The Gypsy King' is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to watch his former opponent, Francis Ngannou, box Joshua on Friday night.

On Tuesday, the trio of boxers surprisingly came together for a photo with Cristiano Ronaldo and his Excellency Turki Alalshikh – but the meeting wasn't without its issues.

The WBC heavyweight titleholder got into a spat with Ngannou, and ahead of the press conference on Wednesday he slammed the former UFC heavyweight champion for being 'ungrateful'.

"He should be [thanking me] really because all of his UFC career he made about $1 million, and he made about $6 million or $7 million against me," Fury told Queensberry Boxing.

"So, he should be thanking me really. Instead, I've had to tell him off in front of a load of people because he's having a lot to say on camera after I've given him his biggest payday by about a million times.

"I don't know, he's an ungrateful f***** really."

Ngannou is hoping his 'world record power' will be enough to get him a big win against Joshua, who some fans have accused of having a suspect chin during his career.

Fury shockingly insists Joshua's punch resistance is perfectly fine.

He added: "Listen, the man has been a world heavyweight champion, and you don't get that if you've got a glass chin.

"We are rivals, so I could talk s*** about him all I want, and he can do the same about me. All them [fans] can't because they don't know fighting, they aren't champions, so they don't have the right to do it.

"Anyone who wants to say, 'AJ has a glass chin' it's all bulls*** really."

Fury hopes to become the first four-belt heavyweight champion in boxing history when he takes on WBA, WBA, and IBF titleholder Oleksandr Usyk on May 18.

The winner will eventually face Joshua or Ngannou in a boxing blockbuster.

"It’s a good fight but Turki [Alalshikh], I was talking with him last night about it and he said, ‘The winner of this fight, will get the winner of you and Usyk’," Fury revealed.

"After me and Usyk fight and have a rematch, then the winner of this will get a shot at that. 

"So, me and Usyk have two fights lined up this year. The winner of that fight will get to fight the winner of this fight. So, there’s a lot on the line."