Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou conduct public workouts in Riyadh ahead of boxing showdown

Heavyweight stars set to clash in a lucrative crossover bout on Saturday night

Tyson Fury at Boulevard Hall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ahead of his fight against Francis Ngannou. Getty Images

Fury trains during a public workout session ahead of the bout billed as the 'Battle of the Baddest'. Getty Images

Fury will face Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, in Riyadh On Saturday. Getty Images

WBC heavyweight world champion Fury gets his hands wrapped by trainer Sugar-Hill Steward. Getty Images

Fury is unbeaten in 34 professional fights and became a two-time heavyweight world champion in February 2020. Reuters

Ngannou will enter the ring in Riyadh for his boxing debut having conquered the MMA heavyweight scene. Getty Images

Fury is a wide favourite and the British fighter is predicting an early stoppage. Reuters

Ngannou left the UFC last year after winning and then retaining the heavyweight title in his final two fights. Getty Images

The Cameroonian is known for his brutal power inside the cage. Getty Images

Saturday will be Fury's first fight in Saudi Arabia, but will return to the kingdom for a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk. Getty Images

The 10-round, non-title fight will mark Ngannou’s first foray in professional boxing. Getty Images

Ngannou is working under the tutelage of former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Reuters

Fury poses for a photo with his team and Joseph Parker following a public workout. Getty Images

Parker trains during a public workout ahead of his heavyweight bout against Simon Kean. Getty

Parker hits the pads during a public session ahead of his fight on Saturday with Kean. Getty

Canadian heavyweight Kean has 22 knockouts in his 23 wins but will be the underdog against former champion Parker. Getty

Fabio Wardley trains ahead of his heavyweight bout with David Adeleye. Getty

Wardley will be aiming to defend his British heavyweight title at the weekend. Getty

Adeleye trains ahead of the fight. The pair will face off for the Lonsdale belt which is contested outside the UK for the first time. Getty

Wardley and Adeleye will face off as part of a stacked card for the Fury vs Ngannou showdown this weekend. Getty

Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou gave fans a glimpse of what's to come as both fighters conducted public workouts in Riyadh on Wednesday evening ahead of their blockbuster boxing showdown.

Fury, the WBC's unbeaten heavyweight world champion, faces former UFC heavyweight king Ngannou in a highly lucrative crossover bout in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

Ahead of their contest, both fighters went through their paces with a few drills with their trainers inside the ring at Boulevard Hall in Riyadh.

Fighters on the undercard climbed through the ropes for their public workouts, too, including former heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker, who takes on Simon Kean, and rising heavyweight contender Fabian Wardley ahead of his bout with David Adeleye.

Fury, who became a two-time world champion in February 2020 by defeating Deontay Wilder in a rematch after their thrilling first fight ended in a controversial draw, is the overwhelming favourite to extend his unbeaten professional record to 35 fights.

The 35-year-old Briton's WBC title will not be on the line against Ngannou, even though their fight is an official 10-round bout. Instead, Fury and Ngannou will be fighting for the ‘Riyadh Champion’ belt, created specifically for Saturday's fight.

Ngannou, regarded as one of the most ferocious punchers in MMA, will be making his first official boxing appearance. The Cameroonian, 37, won the UFC's heavyweight title in March last year and made one successful defence before leaving the promotion at the end of his contract.

The build-up to the fight continues with a press conference on Thursday and the weigh-in on Friday, before the fighters go toe-to-toe on Saturday night.