Much more difficult than expected, the Englishman Tyson Fury (35 years old, 125 kg, 2.06 m, now 34 victories, including 24 before the limit, 1 draw, 0 defeat), who did not defend his WBC heavyweight title, beat on points, two judges to one (95-94, 95-94, 93-96), Francis Ngannou (37 years old, 123 kg, 1.93 m), Saturday evening, in front of 20,000 spectators in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia ).
Although Ngannou, who alternated between right-handed and left-handed guards, was in his first boxing match, he came out on top, knocking his opponent to the mat in the third round, even allowing himself to knock out the heavyweight champion. Undeniably, he had prepared well physically and had worked on technique. On the other hand, Fury disappointed, was satisfied with the minimum and must absolutely appear in another form during his next fight theoretically scheduled for mid-December against the Ukrainian Alexandre Usyk, WBA-WBO-IBF champion.
The two men, before arriving in the ring, sat on a throne, dressed in a rich bathrobe, a crown on their head, each being the king of their sport. From the outset, Ngannou was not ridiculous, surprising. He advanced, working, but could not find the right distance against Fury who was trying to counter him. The WBC champion hit him hard in the face, but without shaking him.
Fury on the mat
In the second round, Fury briefly moved into a southpaw stance. It wasn’t great technique, with the Englishman not hesitating to hang on, but there was action. In the third, Ngannou managed a nice double left to the face, but without effect. He was going to hit the temple again, while the WBC champion attacked, and this time, Fury collapsed on his back! He got up with difficulty, and, after being counted, set off again to fight, the gong not taking long to ring. Fury was pushed around again in the fourth round, before regaining control.
In the fifth, he passed his right which the Cameroonian clearly accused. Not used to long fights, the ex-MMA champion slowed down in the sixth. In the eighth round, however, he put Fury in difficulty again with his hooks to the face. In the last two, Fury still did little, only bothering the Cameroonian when he kept his distance.
His next opponent, Usyk (36 years old, 1.91 m, 21 victories, including 14 before the limit, 0 defeats), WBA-WBO-IBF champion, will be much more formidable. Their fight, which will designate the undisputed world champion, having been signed in September and must be held again in Riyadh. Usyk will certainly attend the press conference which was to follow Fury’s victory overnight. During their meeting at the gala dinner on Friday, the two men hugged each other.
While the management fights were fought in the open air in front of nearly two thousand spectators, Fury-Ngannou, and him alone, took place in a completely full room of twenty thousand people! As soon as the last fight was over, the media traveled a hundred meters to get there in a big crowd. The center of the floor was occupied by a round platform, but without a ring! From half past midnight (an hour later than in France), singers and dancers took turns in a riot of light. Amazing. And, at 1 o’clock, the stage moved to the back of the room, while the ring was set up from the basement! Amazing ! And, in the space all around, employees were quick to set up tables for the officials and chairs for the VIPs!