Tyson Fury's dad called out to fight by Francis Ngannou coach after Mike Tyson request
21.02.2024 - 20:12
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Tyson Fury's dad John has been challenged to a fight by Dewey Cooper, the coach of former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
John, 59, has been teasing a return to the ring for several months and even called out boxing legend Mike Tyson at the press conference before his son's crossover fight against Ngannou last October.
The former UFC heavyweight champion makes his second boxing appearance on March 8 when he fights former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Cooper has been out in Saudi Arabia for the past five weeks helping the 37-year-old prepare for the fight alongside the former UFC champion's other striking coach John Mbumba.
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Cooper has been coaching Ngannou since the Cameroonian made the permanent move from Paris to Las Vegas in 2018. The former two-time kickboxing world champion, who is 10 years younger than John, told Mirror Fighting: "John Fury wanted to fight Mike Tyson, that's a big fight and would make a lot of money.
"I don't blame him, why not? If he called me out, I'd definitely fight him. I'm a coach now, I'm retired from fighting but I train and I can definitely train more if I'm ignited to do such.
"I haven't seen him fight because the only fighters I really watch are the legends that I grew up loving and the opponents of my fighters, so I can't really say.
"I wouldn't discount his ability because he's Tyson Fury's dad and Tyson is one of the greatest. I'm sure he can fight otherwise he wouldn't be so confident in himself. I just need enough time to train to fight anybody, but if he wants a boxing fight