In a thrilling and contentious boxing bout, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury managed to secure a split decision victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The ten-round fight, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw Fury overcoming an early knockdown to maintain his unbeaten record.
Ngannou Impresses Despite Loss
Making his boxing debut at the age of 37, Ngannou demonstrated remarkable skill and discipline, outboxing Fury for significant portions of the match. His performance culminated in a shocking third-round knockdown of the British champion. Yet, despite this impressive display, Fury rallied to win with narrow margins of 94-95, 96-93, and 95-94.
"He's a hell of a fighter and a hell of a lot better boxer than we thought he would be," Fury admitted after the match. "He's an awkward man and a good puncher, and I respect him a lot."
Controversy Surrounds Decision
The fight result was not without controversy. Many boxing experts had labeled Ngannou as the underdog going into the match, but his disciplined and aggressive performance left many believing that "The Predator" was wrongfully denied the win.
Reports from boxing website Bad Left Hook suggested that Fury was not in peak physical condition, with his stamina notably lacking in the early rounds. Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn echoed these sentiments, claiming that Ngannou won "by two rounds" and that "Tyson Fury looked like he's never laced a pair of gloves before."
Fury vs. Ngannou: The Stats
Despite the controversy, Compubox statistics reveal that Fury landed more total punches in the contest. Out of 223 punches thrown, Fury landed 71, while Ngannou managed to connect with 59 out of his 231 attempts. However, Ngannou did land more power punches throughout the fight, 37 to 32.
Fury's late rally, landing 13 punches to Ngannou's six in the final two rounds, likely swayed the judges' decision. "I don't know how close it was, but I got the win, and that's what it is," said a relieved Fury post-fight.
What's Next for Fury?
Shortly after the bout, Oleksandr Usyk entered the ring to confront Fury, setting up an intriguing match between the two undefeated fighters who hold unified heavyweight titles. The date for this title unification clash remains uncertain as Fury and his promoter, Frank Warren, were non-committal following the fight with Ngannou.
"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, indicating that Fury might need time to recover from the grueling fight against Ngannou.
Usyk, however, insisted that the fight should take place on the agreed date of December 23. The Ukrainian argued that if Fury cannot meet the schedule, he should vacate his title. As negotiations continue, boxing fans worldwide eagerly await the outcome.