Tyson Fury will fulfil a lifelong dream when he swaps boxing for professional wrestling and fights Braun Strowman at the Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.
The heavyweight appeared at a Las Vegas press conference on Friday where he confirmed he would fight on the October 31 pay-per-view card at the end of a week which started with Fury and Strowman brawling at Monday Night Raw.
They had previously clashed at SmackDown and announcing the fight, WWE executive vice president Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque said: “Braun Strowman will step into the ring with the man who is undefeated in 30 fights, the 6ft 9in Gypsy King, Tyson Fury.
“This match between two larger than life athletes was ignited in a moment that captivated the entire world last Friday night at SmackDown.”
Fury’s stature in America rose considerably when he rose from the canvas to achieve a stunning draw against WBC champion Deontay Wilder last December, and the pair are set for a rematch next year.
But first, the Manchester-born boxer will achieve a dream later this month when he steps into the wrestling ring.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to say how honoured I am to be here and involved,” Fury said at the press conference.
“This is something I’ve always dreamed of, I’m a lifelong WWE fan and this is a fantastic opportunity for me.
“I’d like to say how excited I am to be fighting the monster among men Braun Strowman. But me, being the undefeated lineal boxing champion, I fear no one.
“When I go to Saudi, I am still going to be undefeated, I am going to knock Braun Strowman out.
“He is messing with a guy with the best hands in boxing. He don’t want none of them hands.”
Fury and Strowman first came to blows at a SmackDown event earlier this month, when the latter appeared to taunt the boxer.
It resulted in the 31-year-old, who had been sitting in the front row, jumping the guardrail before he was restrained.
He then accepted an open microphone invitation to appear at Monday Night Raw, where a brawl broke out with Fury and the man known as the Monster Among Men.
The exchange led to a mass melee in which a host of security guards and WWE stars attempted to keep the pair apart – a scuffle that continued even after the televised section of the show had ended.
Now Fury will make his official WWE debut against Strowman, who said: “I have to give credit where credit is due. Tyson Fury is a bad dude, especially when you take into consideration what he has been able to overcome and on the back of that be a world heavyweight champion.
“But Tyson, heed my warning. In WWE we don’t wear gloves and you are coming into my world.
“You are a household name. But when these hands put you down for good, the whole world will remember who the Monster Among Men is.”
Undefeated Fury is still recovering from an eye injury that he suffered in his battling victory over relative unknown Otto Wallin in Las Vegas last month, which required around 50 stitches.
