In his pro boxing debut, Francis Ngannou gave Tyson Fury all he could handle.
Francis Ngannou put on the performance of a lifetime in his bout against WBC heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury leaving many onlookers saying the Cameroonian is the uncrowned champ. Ngannou lost by split decision, by a single point, to the man many believe is the best heavyweight in boxing today.
On October 28, 2023, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, something special took place in the boxing world. A true Rocky moment was brought to life. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou shocked the world with his performance against WBC heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury. It was Ngannou’s first foray into the squared circle as a pro boxer against one of the best heavyweight boxers in the game. So suffice it to say no one gave Ngannou that much of a chance. While being a talented athlete and combat sports veteran, many believed that Ngannou didn’t have the experience and expertise to defeat Fury. He may not have won the match, but proved he’s a force to be reckoned with.
In the third round of their non-title match, Francis Ngannou knocked down Tyson Fury. It was a moment that sent many spectators, present company included, right out of their seats. Many people thought Ngannou would be competitive, but would ultimately be dominated by Fury’s superior boxing acumen. How wrong we all were. Ngannou not only came to prove that he could box, he came to make a statement and beat Fury. While he may not have accomplished the latter, he more than proved the former.
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Uncrowned Heavyweight Champion?
In the fallout of his bout with Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou is being hailed by many as the uncrowned heavyweight boxing champion. Fury was unable to get going in the bout and never landed a signature blow in the match. Fury’s usual tactics of hitting and not being hit through head movement and a dominant clinching game were negated. Having wrestled for many years, Ngannou was able to fend off Fury in the clinch. At range Ngannou forced Fury to go first, taking away his long range weapons and countering over the top.
The knockdown in the third was so significant mainly because no one thought Francis Ngannou had the sophistication to land a crushing counterblow against Fury. But Ngannou and his team did their homework and the former UFC champion was able to shock the world. But the third round wasn’t his only moment of success. Ngannou was able to win rounds being patient and picking his shots against Fury.
Where to Go From Here?
With all that said, is Francis Ngannou really the uncrowned champion? In one way yes, he won the story of the fight, knocked down Tyson Fury, and arguably won the ten-round affair. But what can’t be ignored is that all championship boxing matches are not ten, but twelve rounds. Would the scorecards be so close if it was a twelve-round match? Who knows. But there is one way to find out. Ngannou more than earned his place at the top of boxing and a rematch, this time with the title on the line, is something many fans would be interested in watching.
Do you think that Francis Ngannou is the uncrowned heavyweight boxing champion?
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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
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