WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has claimed that Francis Ngannou presents a bigger threat compared to unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Uysk.
Fury is set to take on Ngannou on October 28 in a huge crossover matchup, and if the former can get past the MMA star without any major injuries, he will then prepare for an undisputed showdown with Usyk.
Many are expecting Fury to make easy work of Ngannou who is making his professional boxing debut, but the British fighter believes the punching power the Cameroonian possesses is a real cause for concern, and therefore deems his fight with Usyk as an easier matchup.
"A lot of people are on about this undisputed fight, fantastic," Fury said in an interview ESPN.
"But I have a much more dangerous person to deal with on next Saturday than I do after for the undisputed fight, I believe.
"Because Francis is a bigger man, stronger, more powerful and has knockout capability. As we've seen with Oleksandr Usyk, he doesn't really do much damage to people he hits.
"So you could probably let Usyk punch you all about the head and he'll give you a black eye. If you let Ngannou punch you all about the head, he's probably going to rattle your brain for you."
Fury has become a knockout artist as of late with all four of his previous fights ending before the final, and he will be looking to make it five successive knockout wins in Saudi Arabia at the end of the month.