Francis Ngannou very nearly pulled off the upset against Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia.
The former UFC heavyweight champion was making his professional boxing debut against Fury and started the bout as a huge underdog with many in the boxing community branding the bout as a mismatch.
MORE HERE: 🚨 UFC legend Michael Bisping in awkward altercation with Dillon Danis after years of feuding
But he managed to drop Fury in the third round before dropping a controversial split-decision to the ‘Gypsy King’.
Dramatic night in Riyadh 😲
Enjoy the official fight highlights as Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou went head-to-head in #BattleOfTheBaddest 😮💨#FuryNgannou pic.twitter.com/Pr9a8kkaE6
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) November 1, 2023
On the WBC heavyweight champion’s power, Ngannou admitted he is the hardest hitter he’s ever faced.
“Fury punches pretty good. I ate some of his shots – he punches very strong. And he was with 10oz gloves, because MMA fights are 4oz gloves. In boxing it’s 10oz. I think, so far, he is the top”
On the dramatic knockdown he continued: “I was [feeling] pretty good. I mean, I have watched Fury many times, I have watched him take a strong hand, go down, unconscious and then come back.
So I knew [I could knock him down. I was expecting more because I was looking at him, his eyes were open, he looks like he was all conscious.”
Fury definitely has a strike like few understand. Props to Francis for fighting an underestimating fury who came in overweight and under his peak agility.. I imagine he lost power in his delivery over his dissmisal. But kudos to both for throwing down for us all.
Nope, Fury trained 12 weeks instead of 6. He was in the best shape he could be.
Overtrained, underestimated.
You have clearly never seen his past fights.
What’s crazy is francis is saying tyson hits harder than the ufc guys , even in 10oz gloves . And he still ate them and din’t even seem fazed in the slightest .