Tyson Fury was probably just as shocked as the rest of us.
The reigning WBC heavyweight champion hit the canvas in the third round of his 10-round, non-title pay-per-view (PPV) exhibition bout against former UFC 265-pound titleholder Francis Ngannou last weekend at Boulevard Hall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“That definitely wasn’t in the script,” Fury said after the fight. “He’s a hell of a figher and a hell of a lot better boxer than we thought he would be. He’s an awkward man and a good puncher and I respect him a lot. I was caught behind the head for the knockdown. I got back up and got back to my boxing.”
controversial split decision (some might say ROBBERY).
“I’m getting ready to come here and take over,” Ngannou said after the fight. “I might have come up short today, I might be wounded but I can bite, I’m just a fighter and I’m ready to fight any time soon. We can run it back soon and I’m sure I can do better. This was my first boxing match. I’m not making excuses but I can come back even stronger.”
Anthony Joshua will be waiting.
in both boxing and MMA. As for Fury, he was expected to face Oleksandr Usyk to unify the WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles on Dec. 23; however, that date may be in jeopardy after the drama that unfolded last weekend in Riyadh.
For much more on the Fury vs. Ngannou spectacle click here.
