Last weekend, arguably one of the biggest boxing events in history took place as Lineal Boxing Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury took on ex-UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou in his boxing debut. Coined "The Battle of The Baddest," the event took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with millions watching elsewhere around the world.
Despite Ngannou being on track for a shocking upset win, the decision was, in the eyes of many, wrongly awarded to Tyson Fury, but that didn't take away from the spectacle of the event. In line with all the bravado and prestige of the show, Francis Ngannou recruited luxury label Bespoke Boxing to design his walkout and in-ring gear.
Designed with an "African warrior king" concept in mind, this fight-wear readily illustrates the evolution of style in boxing. Handcrafted by founder and creative director Imtayaz Qassim at his studio in South Wales, both the shorts and walkout robe are crafted from British Duchesse fabric, complete with a deep black tint.
Atop this, shades of gold work in unison alongside around 1000 hand-placed Swarovski crystals to create nothing short of an elevated aesthetic. On the rear of the shorts, contrasting stitched outlines of countries represent Ngannou's Cameroonian upbringing, as well as his current home nation of France.
Imtayaz also collaborated with luxury glove producer Leone, producing a pair that includes a handwritten French note that translates to say, "I beat people up for a living."
For more on the crossover between fashion and boxing, check out - Fighting Fashionably: The Rise of Style in Boxing .
