In a thrilling encounter that left boxing fans around the world on the edge of their seats, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury managed to maintain his undefeated professional record. He survived a knockdown and went on to defeat former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou by split decision over ten rounds in a controversial fight last Saturday night.
Ngannou Shocks with Stellar Performance
Despite being 37 years old and making his boxing debut, Ngannou outboxed Fury, 35, for much of their fight held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He shook the British champion with a knockdown in Round 3. However, Fury rallied to win by narrow margins (94-95, 96-93, 95-94), avoiding the first loss of his illustrious 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," Fury commented after the fight, acknowledging the challenge posed by Ngannou.
Controversy Surrounds the Outcome
Many boxing experts had pegged Ngannou as an underdog in the event, but his disciplined and aggressive performance led many to believe that "The Predator" was wrongfully denied the win. The boxing website Bad Left Hook even reported that Fury seemed not to be in peak physical condition, with his stamina notably lacking in the early rounds.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn echoed this sentiment, maintaining that Ngannou won "by two rounds" and criticizing Fury's performance. 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.
Statistical Breakdown of the Fight
Although Ngannou, the Cameroonian-French fighter, landed more power punches, the latest stats revealed that Fury landed more total punches during 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.
In the final two rounds, Ngannou landed only six punches compared to Fury's 13, which likely swayed the judges' decision. However, Ngannou landed more power punches throughout the fight, 37 to 32.
Fury vs. Usyk: The Next Big Showdown?
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.
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.
Usyk, however, insisted that the fight with Fury take place on the agreed date of December 23. The Ukrainian boxer argued that Fury should vacate his title if he could not meet the agreed date, adding another layer of intrigue to the already buzzing heavyweight boxing scene.