Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou shockingly went the distance in his boxing debut against reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Despite knocking Fury down in the third round, Ngannou couldn’t secure the victory, as Fury won a split decision. Read more about the fight and Fury’s next challenge to unify the heavyweight division.
| Fight Result |
|---|
| Tyson Fury wins split decision |
| Key Points |
|---|
| Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou shocks in boxing debut |
| Fury knocked down by Ngannou in the third round |
| Fury remains undefeated at 34-0-1 with 24 knockouts |
| Fury’s next challenge is to unify the heavyweight division |
| Fabio Wardley defeats David Adeleye in co-feature bout |
| Adeleye shoves referee after the fight |
| Attendance |
|---|
| Recording artists Kanye West and Eminem, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, and boxing legends Sugar Ray Leonard and Manny Pacquiao were in attendance. |
Tyson Fury Wins Split Decision in Boxing Debut
Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou shocked the world in his boxing debut against reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Despite knocking Fury down in the third round, Ngannou couldn’t secure the victory, as Fury won a split decision. The judges scored the fight 96-93 and 95-94 in favor of Fury, while one judge favored Ngannou 95-94. This bout, although not for Fury’s championship belt, counts as an official fight. Fury remains undefeated at 34-0-1 with 24 knockouts, while Ngannou’s UFC record stands at 17-3.
Ngannou’s Impressive Performance
Ngannou showed early in the scheduled 10-round fight that he wasn’t going anywhere. He sent Fury to the floor with a left hook in the third round, marking the seventh time Fury has been knocked down in his career. Ngannou continued to stagger Fury in the fourth and eighth rounds, but Fury managed to stay on his feet. The fact that the fight went the distance was an upset in itself, and fans chanted Ngannou’s name in the 10th round.
Fury’s Next Challenge
Despite the victory, Fury’s focus now shifts to unifying the heavyweight division. He has agreed to fight Oleksandr Usyk, who currently holds the other three championship belts, on December 23 in Saudi Arabia. If Fury can defeat Usyk, he will become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Other Bouts and Controversy
In the co-feature between two undefeated British heavyweights, Fabio Wardley knocked down David Adeleye in the seventh round and finished him off to secure the victory. However, Adeleye’s actions after the fight, shoving the referee, could lead to a suspension.
This boxing event, held in Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Arena, attracted a star-studded audience, including recording artists Kanye West and Eminem, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, and boxing legends Sugar Ray Leonard and Manny Pacquiao.
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