Former UFC star Francis Ngannou knocks out world champion Tyson Fury in his boxing debut and pushes him to the limit. Fury wins by a razor-thin margin – and not by unanimous decision.
This is a fight the martial arts world will be talking about for a long time!
Boxing world champion Tyson Fury embarrassed himself in the spectacular crossover fight against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou: The unbeaten Brit – whose WBC title was not on the line – defeated the Cameroon-born MMA fighter by a razor-thin margin in his professional debut as a boxer.
Fury conceded a knockdown in Round 3 against the unexpectedly resistant and strategic Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The “Gypsy King” recovered from the left hook but was never able to dominate the Cameroonian thereafter as he had to claim to do despite Ngannou’s boxing background.
In front of a celebrity-studded crowd – Cristiano Ronaldo, Conor McGregor, Eminem and Kanye West were on hand, as was WWE legend The Undertaker – Fury ultimately failed to win by unanimous decision on points. One judge saw the Octagon undefeated Ngannou ahead 95-94, while two others saw Fury close (96-94, 95-94).
Tyson Fury WINS by SPLIT DECISION
Should @Francis_Ngannou have gotten the decision? FuryNgannou pic.twitter.com/a7kF6AqnnZ
– DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 28, 2023
The 37-year-old Ngannou – for whom icon Mike Tyson acted as mentor – put up a brave fight and may have earned himself more lucrative business opportunities in boxing after being released from the UFC following a lengthy dispute over money and esteem. Fury, meanwhile, goes into his December scheduled unification duel with Alexander Usyk with a weakened nimbus, also among the guests of honor in Riyadh.
