By Tim Parsons-
Tyson Fury was well prepared for former UFC Champion Francis Ngannou, but met a tougher opponent than he envisaged, according to his sparring partner.
In a recent interview with SecondsOut, Dacres stated: “John wasn’t really in the camp. It’s all good saying it in hindsight. I was there for two weeks. We were sparring hard, doing 12, 15 round sessions. I’ve been in previous camps, and he was training just as hard as previous camps, so it’s hard to say.
‘It’s really more on him than anything. The training camp was preparing for a 12-round fight.”
Ngannou confounded wide expectations by pushing the undefeated world heavyweight champion close, dropping him in the third round and closely engaging him for the rest of the fight.
Many observers at the time believed Ngannou ought to have got the nod in that fight, though boxing purists insist Fury actually won the fight, if only marginally.
, Tyson Fury struggled against Ngannou last October
Both fighters are scheduled to return to the ring in Saudi Arabia, a location that has become a significant player in the boxing world, thanks to Saudi advisor Turki Alalshikh.
Ngannou has the immediate task of facing Anthony Joshua in March, after which he will be on track to meet Tyson Fury for their contractual rematch early in 2025. In the event of Ngannou defeating Joshua, the sky will be the limit for the new star on the block.
Alalshikh has grand plans for 2024, including a heavyweight mini-tournament. At a recent press conference, he unveiled the possibility of the winners of Fury vs. Usyk and Ngannou vs. Joshua facing off in a blockbuster matchup.
While the logistics are yet to be ironed out, this development opens the door for ‘The Gypsy King’ to have another shot at Ngannou in 2024.
With the stage set for these high-stakes clashes, the boxing world eagerly awaits the outcomes of Fury vs. Usyk and Ngannou vs. Joshua, anticipating the potential showdown that could define the heavyweight landscape for years to come.