Fury Survives Knockdown to Beat Ngannou in Controversial Split Decision
In a riveting showdown on Saturday night, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury managed to maintain his undefeated record, surviving a knockdown and defeating former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou by a split decision over ten rounds. The fight, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was marked by controversy as many believe the underdog Ngannou deserved the victory.
Ngannou, 37, making his boxing debut, demonstrated surprising skill and discipline as he outboxed Fury, 35, for much of their bout. He even managed to floor the British champion with a knockdown in Round 3. However, Fury rallied back to secure a narrow victory, with judges scoring the match 94-95, 96-93, and 95-94 in his favor.
Fury Praises Ngannou's Performance
"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."
Many boxing experts had dubbed Ngannou an underdog in this event. Despite this, "The Predator" fought with discipline and aggression, without recklessness. Meanwhile, Fury appeared to be less than peak physical condition, with his stamina notably lacking in the early rounds.
Hearn Calls for Rematch or Joshua Fight
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn was among those who echoed the sentiment that Ngannou was wrongfully denied the win. 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.
Boxing Stats: Fury Wins
Despite Ngannou landing more power punches, the latest stats revealed 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. 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 swayed the judges' decision. However, Ngannou did land more power punches throughout the fight, with a tally of 37 to 32.
Uncertain Future: 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 tough 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.
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.