Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou Picks, Odds & Predictions

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26 October 2023

Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou Picks, Odds & Predictions

Heavyweight luminary Tyson Fury welcomes former UFC champion Francis Ngannou to the ring this Saturday in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Read on for our Fury-Ngannou picks with odds from our best sports betting sites.

The 35-year-old Tyson Fury currently holds a WBC heavyweight strap claimed with a 2020 TKO of Deontay Wilder. But he won't be defending his crown against the debuting Francis Ngannou, which is why the matchup is slated for 10 rounds.

The Manchester native is undefeated across 34 career bouts, with a 2018 split draw against Wilder the closest to a blemish during his professional career. Fury most recently competed in December 2022, besting Derek Chisora for the third time through a 10th-round TKO.

Meanwhile, Ngannou has yet to compete in a professional boxing ring, and he last walked to the cage in January 2022 at UFC 270. That's when he claimed a unanimous decision over Ciryl Gane to become the UFC’s heavyweight king.

A contract dispute kept the 37-year-old from defending the crown, and it ultimately led to his departure from the promotion. While he’s since inked a lucrative deal with the Professional Fighters League, his debut under that banner has taken a backseat to Ngannou's boxing foray.

Ngannou moved to Paris many years ago with boxing aspirations that went on ice due to his MMA career. He’s since shifted stateside and gone 17-3 in the cage with 16 career stoppages.

Here is our best Fury-Ngannou prediction for Saturday, Oct. 28 (odds via our best sports betting apps; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou moneyline odds

In a clash between a decorated, undefeated pugilist and a neophyte, the former is predictably the enormous favorite.

With the lines on a Fury victory ranging from -1400 (DraftKings and bet365) to -2000 (FanDuel), there’s little use in betting on him to remain undefeated. Meanwhile, those banking on Ngannou to uncork a fight-ending shovel hook can side with the Cameroon native at +1040 through FanDuel.

A winning method bet on Fury is only slightly more enticing, so those looking for a wager worth their time will need to pursue a round prop at our best sportsbooks or an alternate fight outcome. bet365 is offering separate lines on a Fury KO (+275) and TKO (-175), as is DraftKings (+160 and -165).

Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou total rounds

Fury recently declared he’d dispose of Ngannou within six rounds, and the Under on his prediction is available at a respectable -125 through bet365 (Under 5.5 Rounds). With Saturday’s contest scheduled for 10 rounds, most of our best sportsbooks are putting the total at 4.5 frames. Any potential takers will find the best available odds on the Under at +120 with bet365.

Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou pick

Fury by KO/TKO (-450 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

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I initially thought Fury would cruise and steadily outpoint Ngannou in a tepid affair to remain unscathed ahead of his imminent date with Oleksandr Usyk. But now I envision the “Gypsy King” schooling the debuting Ngannou and dispatching him in short order.

Ngannou’s recruitment of Mike Tyson for this camp and his efforts to develop into more of a technician are commendable. But simply put, the man is out of his depth. Whether the pair trade shots at range or get to bruising against the ropes, Fury boasts a gargantuan advantage. There isn’t a pundit or boxer who can say otherwise with a straight face.

The Manchester native maintains he’ll put Ngannou on his back foot, throw heaps of jabs from the opening bell, and end their dance before the seventh.

Fury holds a physical advantage, even against a man with Ngannou’s measurables. And as Wilder and Steve Cunningham learned the hard way, Fury can play the bully when needed. I see him replicating his performances against both of those men and crowding Ngannou against the ropes to render any puncher’s chance a non-factor. As the rounds wear on and Fury’s pressure persists and the short shots inside begin adding up, an overwhelmed Ngannou will fade and wilt from a merciless salvo that will leave him counting the lights - all in under six full rounds as Fury predicted.

Given the lopsided nature of this matchup and its odds, the value on a Fury KO/TKO is understandably negligible, but still better than a straight-up win for the Brit. FanDuel is offering a 25th career stoppage at -450.

Several books are posting separate lines on a Fury KO and TKO, with bet365 and DraftKings leading the pack at +275 and -165, respectively.

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Fury-Ngannou pick made 26/10/2023 at 12:06 a.m. ET