In a result that will be debated as long as the fight is remembered, fans and pundits are at odds as to who deserved to be declared the winner of the 10-round non-title bout between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury 34-0-1 (24) and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou 0-1 at the Boulevard Hall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
The 35-year-old Fury was expected to make light work of boxing debutant Ngannou, 37, of Cameroon. But the longshot underdog surprised Fury with not only his boxing ability but also his power, depositing the short-priced favourite on the deck in the third round.
Britain’s Fury got back behind his jab to edge Ngannou by split decision with scores of 94-95, 95-94 and 96-93.
The last undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, Lennox Lewis, believes the right man got the nod.
“I thought Tyson Fury won,” former WBC, WBA and IBF champion Lewis told TNT Sports. “He was throwing a lot of punches. He was getting that jab going, Francis Ngannou really surprised me – he showed really good poise, patience.
“You could tell that he was waiting for that perfect opportunity and he threw a punch when Tyson Fury was off balance. The fundamentals weren’t there from him, he wasn’t 100 percent. This was like a warmup fight to the big fight for me.”
Lewis took to social media to clarify his view on the fight.
“The lion can’t let the shark come into the jungle and nearly beat him,” he posted. “Ngannou’s stock is up. Fury’s stock is down in a lackluster win.”
Former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton, middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr and former super middleweight champion Carl Froch all disagreed.
“I thought Ngannou won that fight. At times I could not believe what I was watching,” Frampton said to TNT Sports.
“Francis came in to his first boxing match and was fighting the heavyweight champion of the world, how was he supposed to win? But in my eyes he won. He boxed beautifully at times.”
Eubank Jr said: “I thought Ngannou won the fight. It was close but he was the aggressor, landed heavier shots and scored a knockdown.
“Fury deserved to lose after having so much trouble against a man who has never boxed before… too much time filming Netflix specials not enough time in the gym I’m guessing. Unlucky Francis.”
Speaking on his talkSPORT Boxing show, Froch said to old rival George Groves: “Ngannou was very very good, I though exceptionally good for a debutant and I didn’t score the fight. I certainly watched it, didn’t score it but you get a feel for who you think’s won the fight and with that knockdown in round three I just think Ngannou’s won that fight.”
