Tyson Fury survives knockdown, edges Francis Ngannou on points

In a shocking turn of events, Tyson Fury was forced to survive a third-round knockdown to overtake Francis Ngannou by split decision on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

One judge scored it 95-94 for Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, but was overturned by scores of 96-93 and 95-94 for Fury. Fury’s WBC heavyweight title was not on the line in the 10-round boxing match. Ngannou was making his professional boxing debut in his first fight since January 2022.

Englishman Fury was installed as a -1400 favorite to win the match. He moves on to an undisputed heavyweight championship fight against Oleksandr Usyk despite arguably his worst performance against Ngannou.

The Fury-Usyk fight, perhaps the biggest in boxing, is already signed and scheduled for December 23 in Riyadh, but it is unclear if the fight will take place on that date. Fury was cut over his left eye and forehead and suffered damage against Ngannou. He would have to turn around and fight Usyk in less than two months.

“This will be our next fight, guaranteed,” said Fury, ESPN’s No. 6 pound-for-pound boxer.

Fury (34-0-1, 24 KO) was expected to dominate Ngannou but instead settled for a decision. Ngannou was considered for his immense punching power in MMA but had never even boxed as an amateur.

Fury looked confused throughout the fight, unsure of how to attack Ngannou, who possessed surprising timing. He hit Fury with a left hook to the temple in the third round for the knockdown, the seventh of Fury’s career. But just like the previous six times – including four total in his heavyweight title trilogy with Deontay Wilder – Fury beat the count.

“It definitely wasn’t in the script,” Fury said. He’s a very clumsy man and he’s a good puncher and I respect him a lot. … He didn’t come forward, he waited for me in the back. … He probably gave me one of my hardest fights in the last 10 years.”

Fury added: “He’s a good boxer. He’s a lot better than I thought and he gave me a good fight. … I’d like to do it again later and I’m sure Francis would like to do it. so does.”

Ngannou parted ways with the UFC after beating Ciryl Gane last year to retain his heavyweight championship. The Cameroon native underwent knee surgery and then signed with the PFL. But before making his PFL debut, Ngannou came face to face with Fury last April in London following Fury’s victory over Dillian Whyte.

Both men talked about a future fight, but first, Fury ended a brief retirement to score a 10th-round TKO of Derek Chisora ​​in a trilogy fight in December. When Ngannou finally entered the ring for his fight, he was far more capable than anyone imagined outside of perhaps Ngannou.

Ngannou, 37, landed several big shots and showed an effective jab to establish range and deter Fury’s pressure. Ngannou even switched to southpaw after Fury did the same.

“I’m a fighter,” Ngannou (17-3 MMA record) said. “We can go back and I’m sure I will improve. It was my first boxing match. It was a great experience. I don’t give any excuses.

“I know I failed. But I’m going to go back and work harder with a little more experience and a little more feel for the game. And I’ll come back even stronger.”

Fury preferred to box on the back foot, but after he began training with SugarHill Steward, he became much more aggressive.

Fury scored five knockouts in five fights with Steward, but that streak ended against Ngannou. And suddenly Fury’s match with Usyk looks quite different.

Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) is an Olympic gold medalist and former undisputed cruiserweight champion. ESPN’s No. 3 pound-for-pound boxer, he is a master of angles who defeated Anthony Joshua in 2021 to win the WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles. Usyk, 36, beat Joshua again in last year’s rematch.

Usyk returned in August with a ninth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois to advance into a long-awaited undisputed heavyweight title fight with Fury.

“On December 23, I’m ready to fight,” said Usyk, who entered the ring after Saturday’s decision.

Fury said, “Let’s go now if you want… He’s a smaller man than Francis. I always said Francis was a much more dangerous fight than Oleksandr.”

Despite the defeat, it is Ngannou who wins the rare moral victory. It was his professional boxing debut, fulfilling a lifelong dream that began in Africa. Ngannou arrived in France hoping to box but found MMA. Now he might have his boxing career after all.

Fury’s deal with Usyk contains a two-way rematch clause, virtually guaranteeing two straight fights between the two. But after that, a rematch between Fury and Ngannou would be one of the biggest fights in boxing, as would a fight between Ngannou and Usyk if he won.

There are also Wilder, Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. as possibilities for Ngannou. It’s unclear when Ngannou will box again, but one thing is clear: he has a future in the sport and a chance to make big money.

“At first I was a little nervous,” Ngannou said. “This is a new sport that I’ve never done. Now I can do this. So get ready.”