Fury Fends off Ngannou in Controversial Split Decision
In a thrilling encounter that has sent shockwaves through the boxing world, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury managed to hold onto his undefeated record. The British champion survived a knockdown and beat former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou by a split decision over ten gruelling rounds on Saturday night.
Ngannou, 37, making his boxing debut, outboxed Fury, 35, for much of their fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He even shocked the seasoned British champion with a knockdown in Round 3. However, Fury rallied and won by narrow margins (94-95, 96-93, 95-94), thus avoiding the first loss of his professional career.
Respect Between Warriors
"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 in his post-fight interview. "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."
Controversy Surrounds the Result
The Cameroonian-French Ngannou was considered an underdog going into the event, but many experts now believe "The Predator" was wrongfully denied the win. He fought with discipline and aggression, displaying a level of boxing acumen that surprised many.
Meanwhile, 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 this sentiment, maintaining that Ngannou won "by two rounds" and that "Tyson Fury looked like he's never laced a pair of gloves before."
The Stats Tell a Story
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, Fury landed 13 punches to Ngannou's six, which likely swayed the judges' decision. However, Ngannou landed more power punches throughout the fight, 37 to 32, indicating his aggressive approach.
Fury vs. Usyk: The Next Big Fight?
After the bout, Oleksandr Usyk entered the ring and confronted Fury, his next scheduled opponent. Both fighters are unbeaten and hold unified heavyweight titles. However, the 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.
"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. 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."
Usyk, however, insisted that the fight with Fury take place on the agreed date of December 23, arguing that negotiations for the fight had lasted nearly a year. Usyk suggested that Fury should vacate his title if he could not fight on the agreed date, adding another layer of intrigue to the boxing world.