By Gabriel Princewill-
Wbc heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was humiliated after a controversial split decision against UFC champion, Francis Ngannou, whom many felt won the cross over 10 round bout in Riyadh-Saudi Arabia.
In the annals of heavyweight combat, the clash between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou last Saturday will undoubtedly go down as one of the most shocking, captivating, and ultimately humiliating moments in the career of the WBC heavyweight champion.
The much-anticipated showdown in Saudi Arabia wasn’t just a battle; it was a spectacle that left audiences spellbound, and one that painfully exposed Fury’s shortcomings.
The world had anticipated a mismatch, a spectacle to mock, a circus act, or a freak show, as expectations were set low for this extraordinary crossover event.
However, what transpired on fight night saw Fury desperately struggling to stay in control of the fight against a man boxing professionally for the first time.
Francis Ngannou proved stronger, more powerful, and unrelenting, throwing Fury into a ring of unpredictability that left him struggling to comprehend the script. Not once did Ngannou look in danger of being stopped, nor was he dominated at any point in the fight by the unbeaten world heavyweight champion.
Rather, the UFC champion exhibited an admirable level of poise and boxing nous, sustaining a calculated level of pressure, and timing the delivery of his punches in an educated manner.
Ngannou was relentless, unafraid, and unleashed punches that not many other heavyweights have dared to throw at Fury during the course of his career.
Fury, a boxer with an impeccable track record, appeared incapable of harming Ngannou, whose thunderous punches left the champion unsettled and bewildered.
In the third round, Ngannou cemented his dominance when a powerful left hook connected with Fury’s head, sending the champion crashing to the canvas.
It marked the seventh time Fury had tasted the canvas in his professional career, but this was unlike any other fall. Ngannou had made his point in a spectacular fashion.
Brilliant left hook from Ngannou sent Fury crashing to the canvas
The Cameroonian continued to pursue Fury in the subsequent rounds, landing punches that defied logic and conventional wisdom given the vast difference in their boxing experience.
Ngannou displayed bravery, determination, and an unwavering level of tenacity throughout the match.
His limitations as a boxer were evident, but his raw talent and fearlessness left observers pondering what might have been if he had chosen boxing instead of mixed martial arts.
The fight not only exposed Fury’s arrogance in dismissing Ngannou, but also came close to dealing a severe blow to his professional reputation.
The WBC title was not on the line, and Fury had dismissed the bout’s significance, but Ngannou’s relentless pursuit of victory and his striking display had fans and pundits alike questioning Fury’s boxing prowess.
The gypsy king looked very beatable, and may indeed have been a beaten man in reality, who escaped the ultimate embarrassment of being handed a defeat in the hands of a boxing novice.
In the end, it was a night of shock and awe, where the underdog defied the odds, and the world witnessed one of the most humbling moments in Tyson Fury’s illustrious career.
Ngannou may not have won the fight on the judges’ scorecards, but he certainly won the hearts of those who watched.