Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Latest boxing fight updates and reaction after controversial result in Saudi Arabia
Re-live all the action after Tyson Fury was knocked by and won a controversial decision against MMA star Francis Ngannou
Tyson Fury won a controversial decision against Francis Ngannou in the pair’s boxing match on Saturday night, surviving a knockdown by the MMA star in Saudi Arabia.
Fury entered Riyadh with an unbeaten professional record, while ex-UFC champion Ngannou was making his boxing debut. Fury, 35, did not defend his WBC heavyweight title in the fight, which went for all 10 scheduled rounds and saw Ngannou, 37, arguably do enough to beat the boxer.
The Cameroonian dropped the Briton with a left hook in Round 3, stunning those in attendance and the wider combat-sports world. Ngannou continued to outbox Fury for much of the bout, only to be denied a victory when the scorecards were read aloud.
After a close fight, Fury was named a split-decision winner, and he faced off with unified heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, whom he is expected to fight next – also in Saudi.
Re-live all the action with our fight updates and results, below.
Fury def. Ngannou: Official scorecards
Tyson Fury def. Francis Ngannou via split decision (94-95, 96-93, 95-94).
That will prove controversial. The fight was very close.
Fury vs Ngannou: Round 10
Final round! Fury may need this one to avoid a defeat...
Both men are light on their feet for the first time in a while. It looks like Round 1 again.
Both men just miss with left hooks. A right cross isn’t quite there for Ngannou, as Fury backs away.
“Francis” is the chant from a section of the crowd. Ngannou is back in a southpaw stance again.
Nice, short right hand by Ngannou, who then throws a Superman punch! Aha!
And we will go to the scorecards... Wowwwwwww...
The fighters hug.
Don’t go anywhere.
Fury vs Ngannou: Round 9
Great southpaw cross and right hook by Ngannou! He may actually be leading on points – I’m not joking.
Fury just misses with a jab, then lands a right hand and narrowly avoids a counter. Fury pops back Ngannou’s head with a jab after a slower period.
Ngannou seems to be managing his energy again. Another jab lands for Fury.
One round left.
Fury vs Ngannou: Round 8
Three rounds to go! Ngannou is still in a southpaw stance.
Good cross for him, as he backs Fury into the corner. Now Ngannou lands to the body, before Fury overshoots on a right hand.
Great jabs and an uppercut by Fury now. Jab by Ngannou then a hard hook! Fury blocks most of it but looks concerned for a moment. He fires back, then Ngannou responds in kind!
Both men are landing! A clean cross by Ngannou! Fury’s hands drop... He looks so tired...
Solid right hook by Ngannou, and Fury holds on. Fury can’t quite time his shots at range, either.
Fury vs Ngannou: Round 7
Fury actually landed an accidental elbow in that last round!
Ngannou has gone southpaw again; Fury mirrors him. Good cross by Ngannou. Now he targets the body.
Both men trade jabs to the body, before Ngannou lands another cross up top. Hardddd cross to the body by Ngannou, still standing southpaw.
Solid uppercut in the clinch by Ngannou, who then covers up to block a cross.
Fury with a decent hook, then he tries to clinch Ngannou but is outwrestled and falls to the mat.
Back up. Fury is back orthodox. Both men attack the body. Ngannou parries a jab, then puts a cross narrowly wide.
Fury vs Ngannou: Round 6
Into the second half of the fight. Both men have been standing orthodox for a while now.
Another good jab by Fury. Ngannou can’t get a read on that shot at the moment. The MMA star just misses with a cross.
Fury lands a pawing left hook. Heavyyyy left hook to the body by Ngannou as he steps in. Now the Cameroonian just misses with an uppercut.
Ngannou leans on Fury on the ropes, before the referee separates the fighters. Ngannou has slowed down, but maybe he’s trying to recover energy for a second wind.
Decent cross by Ngannou late in the round.
Fury vs Ngannou: Round 5
Ngannou is starting to miss now. He’s winding up too much and missing with wild shots.
He’s able to land a cross to the chest, though. He’s breathing with his mouth open, however, which is not a great sign.
Twice Ngannou ducks into right hooks. Fury lands a jab, Ngannou connects with a hook.
Harsh right hook by Fury in the clinch. Now an uppercut narrowly misses for the Briton.
Good one-two by Fury! Ngannou comes back with a hook but misses!
Brilliant jab by Fury again. And another. Pistons.
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