In a night filled with shock and controversy, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury managed to keep his unbeaten professional record intact. He survived a knockdown to defeat former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou by a split decision over ten rounds. The match took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and has since sparked a flurry of debate among boxing enthusiasts.
Fury's Narrow Victory
Ngannou, 37, made an impressive debut in the boxing ring against Fury, 35, outboxing him for much of their fight. The former UFC champion surprised everyone, including Fury himself, with a knockdown in Round 3. However, Fury demonstrated resilience and rallied to win by narrow margins (94-95, 96-93, 95-94), thus avoiding the first loss of his professional career.
"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."
The Controversy: Ngannou as the Underdog?
Many boxing experts considered Ngannou an underdog in this event. However, they believe that "The Predator" was wrongfully denied the win. Ngannou fought with discipline and aggression but was not reckless in his approach. This strategy seemed to pay off, yet it didn't sway the judges' decision.
The boxing website Bad Left Hook reported that Fury was not in peak physical condition. His stamina was notably lacking in the early rounds, which could have contributed to the close call.
Echoing this sentiment, 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." On Matchroom Boxing's YouTube channel, 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: In Fury's Favor
While the Cameroonian-French Ngannou landed more power punches, the latest stats revealed that his opponent 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. Fury was also the more active fighter in six of ten rounds, with Ngannou edging three and one round tied.
Ngannou landed only six punches in the final two rounds, while Fury landed 13, which likely influenced the judges' decision. However, Ngannou landed more power punches throughout the fight, 37 to 32.
Upcoming Match: Fury vs. Usyk
After the bout, Oleksandr Usyk entered the ring and confronted Fury, his next scheduled opponent. 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."
Usyk, however, 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.