Before his much-anticipated fight with Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou received a lavish welcome gift from soccer icon Cristiano Ronaldo. Ngannou is all set for his professional boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this weekend. In a show of camaraderie, the former UFC heavyweight champion was presented with an exquisite, special edition watch by Ronaldo.
‘The Predator" took to Instagram to share a video of the moment he received the watch, and his caption reflected his appreciation for the gesture. The watch, which carries Ronaldo"s “CR7" branding, comes from the renowned American jeweler Jacob & Co., which recently opened a store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Cristiano Ronaldo gifted Francis Ngannou a watch worth $134,000 ahead of his fight against Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia 🤯⌚️pic.twitter.com/qhSbBb5Nta
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 26, 2023
Ngannou, while showing off the watch alongside Joe Tessitore, who will be calling the fight, playfully remarked, “It"s a nice piece." Cristiano Ronaldo, who boasts the highest number of Instagram followers, inked a deal to join Al Nassr Football Club, a Saudi Arabian team, in late 2022. He officially joined the club in 2023, reportedly earning a staggering $200 million annually.
On the other hand, Ngannou made headlines earlier this year by becoming the first reigning UFC champion since B.J. Penn in 2004 to let his contract expire and become a free agent in the world of mixed martial arts. His upcoming bout against Fury is expected to be the most lucrative of his career.
Ronaldo and Ngannou first crossed paths in Saudi Arabia earlier this year and have maintained their connection. Ronaldo extended an invitation to Ngannou and his family to attend an Al Nassr"s Saudi Pro League match, where Ronaldo himself scored two goals in a 4-3 victory. The spotlight will be on Ngannou as he faces off against Fury in Riyadh on Saturday night.
