Francis Ngannou's two-word response after being asked if he'd beat a prime Mike Tyson in a street fight

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou once went toe-to-toe with Mike Tyson in the boxing ring, but he is confident of beating the iconic boxer in a street fight

Former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, has boldly claimed that he could defeat a prime Mike Tyson in a street fight. The 38 year old Cameroonian fighter, known as 'The Predator', made a name for himself in the UFC with his devastating knockout power, recording victories over fighters such as Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alistair Overeem.

Ngannou's raw power was so immense that he once registered a punch of 129,161 units on a PowerKube, marking the hardest punch ever recorded. After securing the heavyweight title in 2021, he defended it once against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in 2022 before moving to PFL.

However, his debut with the new organisation was postponed as he ventured into boxing. He first faced Tyson Fury last year, losing by a narrow split-decision, and suffered a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.

Tyson, with a professional boxing record of 50-6-2, is celebrated as one of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history. At his zenith, 'Iron Mike' triumphed over renowned fighters such as Frank Bruno, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, and Marvis Frazier.

Known for his formidable punching power, Tyson, at 58, remains an iconic figure in the sport's annals. Fans often speculate about hypothetical matchups, including one between 'Prime Ngannou' and 'Prime Tyson', reports the Mirror.

In a candid chat with Piers Morgan, Francis 'The Predator' Ngannou was asked who would win in various fighting scenarios. On whether he could defeat Tyson in his prime, Ngannou remarked: "If it's not boxing, I think he's going to have a hard time, but if it's in boxing, then I'm going to have a hard time."

After a chuckle, when pressed about a no-rules street fight, he confidently asserted: "Oh, no, he's having a hard time."

Morgan found Ngannou's confidence amusing, jokingly wishing he could say the same about a street fight with Tyson.

Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, has been full of praise for boxing legend Mike Tyson. The 38 year old had enlisted Tyson's help in training for his bout against Tyson Fury, where he narrowly lost by a single point in a decision that sparked controversy.

Speaking to Piers Morgan, when asked about the greatest fighter he's ever seen, Ngannou responded: "I grew up idolising Mike Tyson. So, if you'd ask me, I'd say Mike Tyson."

Ngannou is now gearing up for his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut against Renan Ferreira later this month. The event will be PFL's fifth visit to Riyadh and the first since PFL MENA 3 earlier this summer.

Standing at 6-foot-8, Ferreira is considered one of the most intimidating heavyweights in the PFL. He recently claimed victory over Ryan Bader in the first round to win the "PFL Champion vs Bellator Champion" Super Belt in February.

Ferreira also secured the 2023 PFL Heavyweight Tournament title with a remarkable second-round knockout against Denis Goltsov in the final.