Ngannou’s Awkward Encounter With Eminem Before The Fury Fight
In some latest boxing news, Francis Ngannou almost had a moment to forget as he failed to realise that the rapper Eminem had arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the night before the fight with Tyson Fury.
The former UFC heavyweight champion will be attempting to pull off a shock by beating the WBC heavyweight champion on his boxing debut.
But in order to do so, Ngannou must overcome a fighter who has never been defeated in the ring. Although that may be the case, several stars from the sporting world and beyond have been on hand to show their support.
Ngannou had received an £87,000 Jacob & Co watch from none other than Cristiano Ronaldo. At the same time, CR7 was also on hand to meet Fury backstage as the boxer shared his admiration for the footballer.
Fury: “Cristiano, you’re the greatest footballer that’s ever lived, and I mean that. I’m a big fan, I watch all the football, I watched you when you were at United, the first time, second time, all of the Real Madrid, everything.
Ronaldo: “But you’ve never been to the stadium?”
Fury: “I come to the stadium but I get very much tortured while I’m there, so it’s very difficult for me.”
Ngannou And Eminem
But when it came to Eminem, the MMA fighter walked past the rapper without realising his presence. In the following video, Ngannou can be seen walking away from the rapper only to then be notified of Eminem’s presence as they embraced each other.
Francis Ngannou's face when he realises he nearly blanked @Eminem 😂
Shoutout to @stylebender, real recognises real 🤝 😅#BattleOfTheBaddest | #FuryNgannou | Saturday, 6PM | Live on TNT Sports Box Office pic.twitter.com/GAcj76BH85
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) October 27, 2023
Khan And Eminem
Much in the same way, Amir Khan was deemed to have had an awkward encounter with the rapper too. Khan is arguably one of the most well-known British fighters to have crossed over into America.
And yet, when it came to his interaction with the rapper, there was certainly a few eyebrows raised. In the following video, Khan can be seen speaking to the rapper as he gifts him a limited WBC watch.
Amir Khan gifts Eminem an expensive watch ⌚️ pic.twitter.com/HPbVgKxQtK
— Shady Times (@ShadyTimes) October 27, 2023
That took the rapper by surprise, who then accepted the gift, which was significant given that boxers are only given such a thing by the boxing organization. Although that may have been the case, the social media response towards the gesture was not all that positive.
Reaction
“Em looks so uncomfortable like “Paul I’m killing you in your sleep tonight for saying this whole thing was a good idea” one user said
“I find this so funny! Em looks like a kid getting helped to wear a plastic like kid watch,” another remarked
Those comments did not sit very well with Khan, given that the gesture had been ridiculed. And since both Khan and Eminem have managed to forge a name for themselves in their respective careers, the boxer had a few choice words to say.
“Bro stfu. He’s a boxing fan and complimented the WBC watch only the fighters got gifted today. So I gave him mine. Move,” Khan
It is fair to say that this may not have been Khan’s finest move. Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingblitz.
