Heavyweight world boxing champion Tyson Fury has won a controversial split decision against former UFC star Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
Key points:
- Ngannou was in his first professional boxing contest and first fight of any kind in almost two years
- Tyson Fury’s heavyweight belt was not up for grabs
- Ngannou knocked down Fury and had him stumbled at other times but only won one of three judges’ scorecards
Ngannou surprisingly went the distance in his pro boxing debut and even knocked down Fury with a left hook, but Fury remained undefeated in a decision that left many once again lamenting the state of boxing judging.
Two judges gave Fury the fight by scores of 96-93 and 95-94, and the other judge favoured Ngannou 95-94.
Fury’s championship belt was never on the line in the exhibition bout, though it was an official fight that could have counted as Fury’s first professional loss in his 35th contest.
Fury was a heavy favourite going into the fight, but Ngannou made some early headway and even opened a cut above Fury’s left eye in the second round.
Then, with 43 seconds remaining in the third round, Ngannou sent Fury to the floor with a left hook, the seventh time he has been knocked down in his career.
Ngannou staggered Fury early in the fourth, but Fury stayed on his feet and the rest of the round was fairly even after that.
Fury appeared to gain control late in the fifth round and carried it over into the sixth, but Ngannou showed in the seventh he wasn’t going anywhere as both boxers traded blows.
Ngannou delivered three powerful lefts early in the eighth and then staggered Fury with two strong combinations midway through the round as Ngannou grabbed the momentum but could not secure the win.
While Ngannou acknowledged he “came up short” after the fight, there were plenty of people on social media who said the 37-year-old mixed martial arts star deserved the win.
British boxing royalty Chris Eubank Jr criticised Fury for spending “too much time filming Netflix specials”, referencing the family slice-of-life documentary series At Home With The Furys.
Former world champion Lennox Lewis “thought Tyson Fury won”, even though Ngannou surprised him with his “good poise and patience”.
This not only was his first boxing match, but Ngannou has not competed at all since beating Ciryl Gane in January 2022, taking his UFC record to 17-3.
Former double-weight boxing champion Carl Frampton said he thought Ngannou won.
“It was a really underpar performance from Tyson,” he said.
“Tyson has got to have overlooked him.”
Fury has the chance to unify the heavyweight division and has agreed to fight Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, with the pair facing off in the ring after the Ngannou result.
AP/ABC