WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION Tyson Fury beat mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou in a controversial split decision after their boxing bout went the distance in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Making his professional boxing debut, Ngannou knocked Fury down in round three but the 35-year-old British fighter, though shaken, was able to continue.
One judge scored the 10-round non-title fight 95-94 in Ngannou’s favour but two others gave it to Fury: 96-93, 95-94.
Advertisement
The undefeated Fury earlier this week laughed off his opponent as a “big fat sausage” but afterwards acknowledged that the 37-year-old Cameroonian had effectively kept him off-balance.
TYSON FURY HAS DEFEATED FRANCIS NGANNOU BY SPLIT DECISION!!! 🤯 😱
“He’s a very awkward man, and he’s a good puncher and I respect him a lot,” Fury said of Ngannou, adding that it was “probably one of the toughest” fights he has had in a decade.
Fury was the overwhelming favourite against boxing novice Ngannou.
“This was my first boxing match, great experience –- I’m not giving any excuse,” Ngannou said in a ringside interview.
“I know I come up short, I’m going to come back and work harder… now I know I can do this.”
Fury’s WBC heavyweight belt was not on the line in the “Battle of the Baddest” in the Saudi capital Riyadh, but the WBC did create a “Riyadh Champion” belt to allow the winner to strut around the ring at the end with something other than their pay cheque.
Fury has been linked with a €57 million (£50m) payout from the exhibition bout, while he has said in the British press that Ngannou will earn €11.5m (£10m).
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
8 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Tyson Fury escapes major shock with controversial split decision over MMA fighter Ngannou
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION Tyson Fury beat mixed martial arts fighter Francis Ngannou in a controversial split decision after their boxing bout went the distance in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Making his professional boxing debut, Ngannou knocked Fury down in round three but the 35-year-old British fighter, though shaken, was able to continue.
One judge scored the 10-round non-title fight 95-94 in Ngannou’s favour but two others gave it to Fury: 96-93, 95-94.
The undefeated Fury earlier this week laughed off his opponent as a “big fat sausage” but afterwards acknowledged that the 37-year-old Cameroonian had effectively kept him off-balance.
“He’s a very awkward man, and he’s a good puncher and I respect him a lot,” Fury said of Ngannou, adding that it was “probably one of the toughest” fights he has had in a decade.
Fury was the overwhelming favourite against boxing novice Ngannou.
“This was my first boxing match, great experience –- I’m not giving any excuse,” Ngannou said in a ringside interview.
“I know I come up short, I’m going to come back and work harder… now I know I can do this.”
Fury’s WBC heavyweight belt was not on the line in the “Battle of the Baddest” in the Saudi capital Riyadh, but the WBC did create a “Riyadh Champion” belt to allow the winner to strut around the ring at the end with something other than their pay cheque.
Fury has been linked with a €57 million (£50m) payout from the exhibition bout, while he has said in the British press that Ngannou will earn €11.5m (£10m).
– © AFP 2023
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Boxing Francis Ngannou Tyson Fury