In a surprising turn of events, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury narrowly escaped defeat in his latest bout against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. The highly anticipated match took place on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and was marked by controversy.
Fury's Narrow Victory
Ngannou, 37, demonstrated exceptional boxing skills in his debut against the 35-year-old British champion. He even managed to knock down Fury in the third round, shocking spectators worldwide. Despite this, Fury rallied and won by a split decision over ten rounds, with judges scoring the fight 94-95, 96-93, 95-94 in his favor. This victory allowed Fury to maintain his unbeaten professional record.
"He's a hell of a fighter and 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 said after the fight. "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 Result
Many boxing experts had labeled Ngannou as the underdog going into the fight. However, they now believe that "The Predator" was wrongfully denied the win. Ngannou fought with discipline and aggression but was not reckless in his approach, which earned him praise from many quarters.
The boxing website Bad Left Hook reported that Fury was not in peak physical condition for the fight. His stamina was notably lacking in the early rounds, adding fuel to the controversy surrounding the result.
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing promoter, echoed these sentiments. "Tyson Fury looked like he's never laced a pair of gloves before," he said, maintaining that Ngannou had won "by two rounds." Hearn has called for "The Gypsy King" to offer his opponent a rematch or face Britain's two-time world champion Anthony Joshua.
Inside the Numbers: Fury's Win
Despite the controversy, Compubox stats reveal that Fury landed more total punches than Ngannou. Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) landed 71 of 223 punches, while Ngannou (0-1) landed 59 of 231. However, Ngannou outperformed Fury in power punches, landing 37 to Fury's 32.
"I don't know how close it was, but I got the win, and that's what it is. You can see it in here – ring rust, everything. No excuses, though. He's cut me across the eye there," Fury admitted after the fight.
What's Next: 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 date for their clash remains uncertain. The rumored date of December 23 in Riyadh is yet to be confirmed, 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 due to his physical condition.
"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, explaining that Fury 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. He argued that if Fury cannot meet this commitment, he should vacate his title.