Francis Ngannou’s trainer, Dewey Cooper, has revealed that Mike Tyson was present only “a couple times” during the 16-week training camp for Ngannou’s fight against heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

Ngannou, a former UFC champion, caused a seismic shock when he dropped Fury on his way to a split decision defeat in a close fight against the WBC heavyweight champion.

After the fight, Mike Tyson lifted Ngannou’s hand aloft, but Cooper revealed during an interview earlier this week that the heavyweight great was not as heavily involved in Ngannou’s preparations as it might have seemed to some.

“He was only there a couple times,” Cooper said. “Mike Tyson talks to Francis often, and that’s what matters. The support of a great guy like Mike Tyson – he did come through a few times throughout the training camp, and that helped a lot.”

Social media videos of Tyson taking Ngannou on the pads and coverage from broadcasters gave the impression that the boxing legend was a mainstay in the UFC star’s training camp.

Cooper revealed that this was not the case: “All the real physical work was done by our team –  and by Francis putting all that hard work in, by the great sparring partners we had come out. We pounded the pavement every day for 16 weeks. That’s every day for four months.”

Ngannou takes on Anthony Joshua on Friday, hoping to create another shock. Tyson has once again been supporting the MMA star.

“This camp, you know – the same thing,” Cooper said. “We’ve been in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the entire camp. Mike has talked to Francis on the phone, etc., and that’s what matters. As long as Francis has the support and all of that, whether [Tyson] is here or not, that means a lot.”

The boxing legend may have been less directly involved in Ngannou’s first boxing camp than he appeared from the outside, but Tyson was an integral part of giving the former UFC champion the confidence to step into a boxing ring.

“Just his belief in Francis [helped] because Francis loves Mike Tyson,” Cooper said. “Mike Tyson was a huge inspiration for Francis to want to even start this fight journey. So just having a guy who really inspired you to do something totally outlandish in the country you’re from, and in the environment you’re from, is a big help.”

After Ngannou-Joshua, Cooper’s attention will turn to Season 2 of “Team Combat League,” which kicks off March 28.