The Riyadh battle between Francis Ngannou and Tyson Fury had stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, the Undertaker, Eminem, and many more gracing the event. In a closely contested match held in Saudi Arabia, the WBC heavyweight champion secured a narrow victory over the former UFC fighter through a split decision. This marked Ngannou’s boxing debut, where he managed to knock Fury down in the third round with a strong left hook. Although Fury improved as the fight progressed, his performance fell short of the anticipated standard.

Mike Tyson had extended a helping hand when Ngannou first announced the fight. After training Ngannou for months, he was present to support his pupil. Here, he also bumped into one of the guests from his podcast, ‘HotBoxin With Mike Tyson’.

Mike Tyson elated to see Eminem in the Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou match

Former heavyweight champion Tyson remains an iconic figure in boxing. Hip-hop star Eminem is no exception. During a 2020 episode of the ‘Hotboxin with Mike Tyson’ podcast, Eminem expressed his deep admiration for Tyson, referring to him as a god-like figure. In their Hotboxin podcast episode, Mike Tyson and Eminem delved into various topics. Some of it included family, hip-hop, and the rapper’s latest album. A standout moment occurred when Tyson praised Eminem’s success, emphasizing that nothing was handed to him and that he had worked tirelessly for his achievements.

via Imago

The two hit it off with a mutual appreciation of each other’s works. Tyson was more than happy to see him at the match.“great seeing you Eminem,” wrote the champion in a story which had a picture of him and the rap star enjoying the match together.

Mike Tyson helps carve Francis Ngannou’s boxing career

Mike Tyson, true to his promise, stood alongside the newcomer, sharing his wealth of knowledge. Both Tyson and Ngannou have faced adversities that would have broken ordinary individuals. Guided by Cus D’Amato in boxing and life, Tyson aimed to mentor Ngannou, who found himself in unfamiliar territory. Tyson played a significant role in Ngannou’s corner for the Tyson Fury fight. Despite being announced as Ngannou’s trainer, Tyson saw himself more as a coach, emphasizing his unwavering loyalty to ‘The Predator’.

Even without an official title, Tyson became a guiding force for Ngannou. He offered mentorship and shared his boxing expertise, especially in dealing with taller opponents, a skill he mastered in his own career. Tyson encouraged Ngannou to embrace the moment, facing the challenge without fear of humiliation.

It is not often that you find someone who has had similar life experiences as you and can understand and empathize on a deeper level. All three entities have faced severe life-threatening problems in their journey upwards.