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On this day: Tyson Fury survives major scare to edge past ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou
Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou were, for a time, simultaneously the heavyweight champions of boxing and the UFC. Two men from vastly different backgrounds – both with claims to being the ‘baddest man on the planet’.
Fury, of traveller descent from the north of England, has boxed since he was a child and had climbed the highest peak of heavyweight boxing twice. Ngannou had come from the sand quarries of Cameroon, not starting any form of combat training until he was 22, but defied the odds of his harsh upbringing to become the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.
The two were never destined to meet – but after Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather put on one of the biggest shows of all time, crossover fights were no longer a fantasy but a shockingly profitable reality.
The fans had an appetite to find out who the ‘baddest’ really was, and today marks two years since the pair shared the ring in a daring crossover event in Saudi Arabia, billed ‘The Battle of the Baddest’.
Where were Fury and Ngannou in 2023?
After making one defence of his UFC heavyweight title in 2022, beating Cyril Gane, Ngannou then endured a year-long contract dispute directly related to his ambitions of entering the boxing ring, which the UFC were not supportive of.
This ended up in Ngannou exiting the UFC in January 2023 and signing a new MMA deal with the PFL that allowed him to box.
Fury was coming off the back of knocking out Dillian Whyte in defence of his WBC heavyweight title in 2022. After Fury stopped Whyte, however, the UFC champion entered the ring and shared a moment with Fury to help attract interest in the fight. But Fury retired shortly after the fight dispelling any hopes of it happening.
But then, after over a year of retirement, the fight with Ngannou was announced in July to take place in October as the inaugural Riyadh Season boxing event – signalling the start of one of the biggest paradigm shifts in boxing history.
Fury was given a special dispensation for the fith - allowing him to compete without having to defend or forfeit his belt.
Ahead of the fight, both men were eager to prove they were indeed the biggest and best fighters in the world.
Fury told Queensberry Promotions: “As soon as that bell goes, it’ll be bombs away! This guy is supposed to be the hardest puncher in the world, but let’s see how he reacts when he gets hit by the Big GK. I can’t wait to get back out there under the lights.
“I’m looking forward to showing the world that The Gypsy King is the greatest fighter of his generation.”
Ngannou said: “I’ve been waiting to meet Tyson in the ring for the past three years. My dream was always to box, and to box the best. After becoming the undisputed MMA Heavyweight Champion, this is my opportunity to make that dream come true and cement my position as the baddest man on the planet."
Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images
The fight
Fury arrived on fight night an overweight and out-of-shape 277lbs, almost 10lbs heavier than his previous fight against Chisora, and Ngannou was not far away at 272lbs, but their physiques couldn’t have been more different.
Through the first two rounds, Fury was up to his usual antics, dancing and feinting his way around the ring, looking to use his skill and reach advantages, landing rangy hooks and looping right hands that dealt no real damage.
It was clear that Fury did not want to get anywhere near Ngannou, looking panicked and desperately hanging onto the hulking figure whenever they got close.
Ngannou stalked patiently, struggling to breach the long-range defences of Fury.
Wake-up call for Fury
Ngannou was growing in confidence and in the third round he began to occasionally find the target as Fury lunged into range and tried to exit with his head high and his hands low.
The Cameroonian’s defensive shape was one-dimensional, but it was clear to see Fury’s punches were not having the desired effect, and Ngannou seemed happy to take a shot to land one – knowing his power advantage was bound to come into play.
Fury’s boxing was not up to its usual standard. He was lunging in with one or two shots and trying to bounce out of range – which was effective at the start but had become predictable.
Then, with less than a minute left in the third round, Fury stepped in with a one-two, bounced back out, and Ngannou, sensing the pattern, threw a counter left hook the next time Fury entered range. It landed cleanly on the temple of Fury, dropping him to the canvas in front of millions around the world.
Fury rose to his feet and had all his faculties, but had received the mother of all wake-up calls. It was a stiff reminder that Ngannou’s power was not to be trifled with, and if he was not more considered in his attacks, the fight could come to an embarrassing end for the heavyweight champion.
ustin Setterfield/Getty Images
Back-and-forth switch-hitting action
Spurred on by the knockdown, Ngannou came out with bad intentions in the fourth round, more willing to throw his right hand, bullying Fury around the ring, even utilising some jiu jitsu and throwing Fury into a corner.
Fury had to dig into his bag of tricks to stop the advance of Ngannou, switching to southpaw to give the Cameroonian a different look – giving him time to reset and regain his composure.
Through rounds five and six, Fury settled back down and boxed efficiently on the back foot, peppering Ngannou with jabs, creating space for himself and countering off the former UFC star’s half-cooked jabs.
But in the seventh round, Ngannou switched into the southpaw stance himself and found some surprising success with his left hand.
Fury was landing the more frequent and cleaner shots, but he looked constantly off balance and in a hurry to get out of the way every time Ngannou threw. This resurgent effort between rounds five and seven would save Fury’s night.
Fury had lost interest in exchanging with Ngannou, and when he wasn’t throwing from range, he was on his bike.
On a knife’s edge
Heading into the final two rounds of the fight, Fury was ahead narrowly on two scorecards and was behind on another. Ngannou had displayed an impressive intelligence and natural aptitude for boxing that stunned Fury.
Fury’s fitness helped him maintain his hand speed and output through the final two rounds, landing snappy one-twos as Ngannou swung in clubbing counter left hooks and right hands.
Ngannou gave it everything in the final round, switching between orthodox and southpaw, and even attempting an illegal superman punch.
The final scorecards read 96-93, 95-94 and 94-95 in favour of Fury via split decision. The ‘Gypsy King’ held on to his undefeated record by the skin of his teeth. But credit must be given to Ngannou for putting on a valiant display against a reigning world champion in his professional debut and even having an argument for claiming the win.
Whether or not Fury was fully focused should not take away from Ngannou nearly pulling off one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
The aftermath
After the pair parted ways, Fury went on to challenge Oleksandr Usyk in a historic undisputed fight that he would lose on a narrow split decision.
But Fury’s performance in the Usyk fight only gave credence to the claims that he did not train for or take the fight with Ngannou seriously.
Fury retired from boxing in January of this year after suffering a second defeat by the Ukrainian.
Meanwhile, Ngannou wasted no time in exploiting the massive boost in his profile to get himself another big-money boxing fight.
He took on Anthony Joshua, who was in a rebuild after losing twice to Usyk, and was clearly looking to make a statement to Fury. Joshua delivered one of the most crushing knockouts of all time – dispatching Ngannou inside two rounds.
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