Boxing history was made last Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury narrowly defeated former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou by split decision. Despite being knocked down in the third round, Fury managed to rally and maintain his undefeated professional career.
Fury Survives Knockdown
The 35-year-old British champion was visibly shocked when Ngannou, 37, making his boxing debut, outboxed him for much of their fight. The Cameroonian-French fighter's performance was a revelation, with Fury acknowledging after the match, "He's a hell of a fighter and a hell of a lot better boxer than we thought he would be."
Ngannou's discipline and aggression were noteworthy, but it was his strategic approach that caught many off guard. He didn't rush recklessly into the fray but instead opted for a more measured strategy. This technique seemed to unnerve Fury, who admitted, "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 Decision
The fight result has not been without controversy. Several boxing experts had pegged Ngannou as the underdog and now believe he was wrongfully denied the win. Boxing website Bad Left Hook reported that Fury appeared to be less than peak physical condition, with his stamina notably lacking in the early rounds.
Eddie Hearn, the Matchroom Boxing promoter, echoed these sentiments, stating that Ngannou won "by two rounds" and that "Tyson Fury looked like he's never laced a pair of gloves before." Hearn has since called for "The Gypsy King" to offer his opponent a rematch or face Britain's two-time world champion Anthony Joshua.
Stats Speak Volumes
Despite the controversy, the stats paint a clear picture of Fury's victory. According to Compubox, Fury landed 71 of 223 punches, while Ngannou landed 59 of 231. In six out of ten rounds, Fury was the more active fighter. However, it's worth noting that Ngannou landed more power punches throughout the fight, 37 to 32.
Perhaps the deciding factor for the judges was the final two rounds, where Ngannou landed only six punches compared to Fury's 13. Regardless, Fury praised his contender, stating, "I don't know how close it was, but I got the win, and that's what it is."
Uncertainty Over Future Match: Fury vs. Usyk
Following 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 rumored date for their clash on December 23 remains uncertain as Fury and his promoter, Frank Warren, were non-committal after Fury's fight with Ngannou.
Warren 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." He predicted the Briton to return to camp early next year. Usyk, however, insisted that the fight with Fury take place on the agreed date of December 23, arguing that Fury should vacate his title if he could not fight on the agreed date.
The future of the heavyweight division remains in flux, but one thing is certain: the boxing world will be watching closely to see what unfolds next.