RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – In a thrilling non-title bout that had the boxing world on the edge of their seats, WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury managed to narrowly defeat former UFC fighter Francis Ngannou in a split decision on Sunday. The showdown, held in Saudi Arabia, nearly delivered one of the most significant upsets in boxing history.
Fury, the undefeated holder of one of the sport’s most prestigious titles, faced off against the 37-year-old Ngannou, who had never previously competed in professional boxing. The match proved to be a testament to Ngannou’s determination and skill, as he managed to take Fury to the limit over ten intense rounds.
The crowd witnessed a moment of shock in the third round when Ngannou, hailing from Cameroon, dropped Fury with a powerful left hook. However, the self-styled “Gypsy King,” aged 35, displayed his resilience, ultimately weathering the round and staying in the contest.
In a post-fight interview, Fury expressed his admiration for his opponent, saying, “That definitely wasn’t in the script. 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. He’s given me one of my toughest fights of the last 10 years.”
The judges’ scorecards reflected the close nature of the bout, with two judges scoring the fight 96-93 and 95-94 in favor of Fury, while the third judge scored it 95-94 in favor of Ngannou.
Regarding the possibility of a rematch, Fury revealed that there was no formal clause, but he would be interested in facing Ngannou again “down the line,” following an undisputed title fight with Oleksandr Usyk, the Ukrainian IBF, IBO, WBO, and WBA champion.
The anticipated clash between Fury and Usyk is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, with an official date yet to be announced. Both champions have expressed their readiness for the challenge.
Ngannou, who had vacated his UFC heavyweight belt earlier in the year due to a contract dispute, acknowledged the challenges he faced during his short training camp. He commented, “My training camp was only three and a half months, and I came into this with an injury. But I don’t want to give excuses. I will look at what I can do next to improve my game to come back even better. Now I know I can do this… get ready. The wolf is in the house.”
