A battered and exhausted Tyson Fury might have won the mega boxing fight against Cameroonian Francis Ngannou but the latter has won the hearts of boxing fans. It was a fight that had been billed as the boxing match of the year. Ngannou, a novice in boxing, was facing off with one of the sport’s most decorated fighters Fury for his professional debut in the sport.
At the end of the Tyson Fury versus Francis Ngannou clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Fury had a black eye. He appeared relieved after surviving what could have been one of boxing’s major upsets.
Francis Ngannou lands a punch on British boxer Tyson Fury during their bout in Riyadh
The 37-year-old Ngannou had never featured in a professional boxing fight before. He had been hoping to replicate his stellar performance in mixed martial arts to beat Fury. Many boxing fans were waiting to see how he would perform on his professional debut. And after the fight, it is easy to declare that he has the potential to be a boxing legend.
How Fury won
Tyson Fury celebrates
An unbeaten holder of the sport’s heavyweight championship belt, the stakes were high for Fury. He suffered several scares during the 10-round bout as Ngannou pushed him back with calculated blows. In the third round of the Tyson Fury versus Francis Ngannou fight, Fury’s high seat almost came crumbling down after Ngannou delivered a near-fatal left punch. The punch sent Fury to the canvas as fans cheered. This was the first time in over two years that Fury had been floored by an opponent.
The ‘Gypsy King’ as he is popularly known among his fans appeared to be off-track as a defeat from a determined Ngannou flashed across his eyes. He managed to recover in the subsequent rounds but struggled to execute his game plan. Ngannou stayed off-range Fury’s lethal punches and limited the experienced boxer to only a handful of successful punches.
At the end of the bout, the two fighters appeared to celebrate. Both believed they had won before the judges delivered their verdict. One judge believed that Ngannou had won the fight 95-94. The second official delivered 95-94 to Fury while the third judge delivered a 96-93 margin for the Gypsy King. The decision handed Fury a win by split decision.
How Ngannou reacted to Fury’s split-decision win
Nicknamed the African Predator, Ngannou believed he won the fight. His fans also believed the boxing debutant had defeated Tyson Fury. Moments after the fight, he claimed he might have falled shot but will make a comeback. Reports by CBS News indicate that the fighter claimed he defeated Fury and was convinced he had won. “I know I’ve come up short, but I’m going to go back and work harder with a little more experience this time, a little more feeling of the game and come back stronger,” Ngannou said.
Boxing fans believe Ngannou was “robbed”
The win by split-decision appeared to have caught boxing fans across the globe flatfooted. Ngannou’s fans in Africa and North America believed he won the match against Fury. Fans in Europe also read foul play in the controversial decision by the judges. Moments after the fight ended, social media was awash with criticisms over the results from fans who believed the Gypsy King did not outpunch his opponent Ngannou. The Daily Mail reports that some fan protested the results. READ ALSO: The only three fighters who have defeated African predator Francis Ngannou
What next for the two fighters?
Tyson Fury and Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk face-off in Riyadh. The two will fight on December 23.
After the Tyson Fury versus Francis Ngannou fight, boxing fans will be waiting for more action from the two athletes. The Guardian reports that Fury will be preparing for another bout against Oleksandr Usyk. The match is expected to take place on December 23. Usyk is also a mainstay in world boxing. The Ukrainian fighter is decorated with WBO, WBA and IBF titles. Ngannou on the other hand is out of action until next year when he is expected to resume fighting in mixed martial arts.