In a controversial bout that saw WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury facing off against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, the Gypsy King managed to maintain his unbeaten record. The fight, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ended with a split decision favoring Fury despite a knockdown he suffered in Round 3.
Fury vs. Ngannou: A Nail-Biter
Ngannou, 37, surprised many by outboxing Fury, 35, for much of their fight, marking an impressive boxing debut for the Cameroonian-French fighter. His performance was so strong that it led to a shocking third-round knockdown of the British champion. However, Fury managed to rally and secure victory by narrow margins (94-95, 96-93, 95-94), thereby avoiding the first loss of his professional career.
Reflecting on the fight, Fury acknowledged his opponent's prowess. "He's a hell of a fighter and a hell of a lot better boxer than we thought he would be. He's an awkward man and a good puncher, and I respect him a lot," said Fury after the fight. "He was very awkward. He wasn't coming forward and was waiting for me to throw. He's given me one of my toughest fights of the last ten years."
Controversy Surrounds the Decision
Many boxing experts had tagged Ngannou as an underdog for the event. Despite this, they believe "The Predator" was wrongfully denied the win. He fought with discipline and aggression, but was not reckless in his approach. There were also reports from the boxing website Bad Left Hook that Fury was not in peak physical condition, with his stamina notably lacking in the early rounds.
Echoing these sentiments, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn maintained that Ngannou won "by two rounds" and that "Tyson Fury looked like he's never laced a pair of gloves before." Hearn called for "The Gypsy King" to offer his opponent a rematch or face Britain's two-time world champion Anthony Joshua. "AJ will knock Tyson Fury out within six rounds. Make the fight; otherwise, we'll never get it," said Hearn.
Stats: Fury Takes the Win
Despite the controversy, the statistics reveal that Fury landed more total punches in the contest. According to Compubox, Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) landed 71 of 223 punches, while Ngannou (0-1) landed 59 of 231. Additionally, Fury was the more active fighter in six of ten rounds, with Ngannou edging three and one round tied.
In the final two rounds, Ngannou landed only six punches compared to Fury's 13, which likely swayed the judges' decision. However, Ngannou did land more power punches throughout the fight, 37 to 32.
Upcoming Match: Fury vs. Usyk
Following the bout, Oleksandr Usyk entered the ring and confronted Fury about their upcoming match. Both fighters are unbeaten and hold unified heavyweight titles. The rumored date for their clash in Riyadh on December 23 remains uncertain as Fury and his promoter, Frank Warren, were non-committal after Fury's fight with Ngannou. There is a chance Fury may have to postpone the title unification against the Ukrainian.
"I don't think the date will be announced just yet. This fight is on. Both fighters want it. Tyson's got a cut there. We'll see how it heals," said Warren. The Queensberry promoter explained that Fury cannot go into a camp after such a tough fight, as he needs "at least a bit of time to get himself, his body, back into shape." He predicted the Briton to return to camp early next year.
However, Usyk insisted that the fight with Fury take place on the agreed date of December 23, as negotiations for the fight had lasted for nearly a year. Usyk argued that Fury should vacate his title if he could not fight on the agreed date.