Former UFC champion Ngannou put Fury on the canvas in round three only to lose the crossover fight on points
Luke Brown
October 29, 2023 at 4:43 AM EDT
(Getty Images)
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Result: Fury climbs off the canvas in points win over Ngannou
- Controversial split decision sees Tyson Fury beat boxing novice Francis Ngannou
- Fury knocked down in round three but able to continue
- Fury maintains undefeated record but lucky to win contest on points
- WBC heavyweight champion now expected to take on Oleksandr Usyk
- Full Fury vs Ngannou fight card results
Martin Bakole bts Carlos Takam via TKO (round four)
It’s all over! Bakole lands a sickening liver shot which Takam is unable to recover from. He gamely stays on his feet but the ref ends it. Takam isn’t happy.
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Bakole vs Takam, round three
That’s better! And this is turning into a bit of a war. With his corner’s criticism ringing in his ears, Bakole pads forward and begins throwing some big shots. But Takam weathers the storm and comes back at his opponent, bowing his head and winging in hooks on both sides. Takam backs Bakole up onto the ropes, but a huge hook wobbles Takam! He looks unsteady on his feet and does well to survive until the end of the round. 2-1 Bakole.
Bakole vs Takam, round two
(Photo: Getty Images)
Better from Takam, who lands an eye-catching overhand right seconds before the bell.
Bakole’s corner aren’t happy. They want their man to be a little bit more mobile and a lot more active. He’s started sluggishly.
Bakole vs Takam, round one
A balletic start to the fight, with both men light on their feet as — ah, who am I kidding. These two have come to bang. Bakole plants his feet in the middle of the ring and looks to unload, although Takam does well to stay out of his way, for now. Bakole, the aggressor, edges the round. This one isn’t going the distance.
The first televised fight is about to begin
I’ve been looking forward to this … Martin Bakole is about to take on Carlos Takam in a fight otherwise known as Tony Yoka’s worst nightmare.
I’ll bring you round-by-round updates from this one.
Ngannou appears to be the fan favourite today
(Photo: Getty Images)
We’ve just had an email from ‘the Crypto Queen’:
“My husband and I are on Team Ngannou tonight! We really hope he wins... it would be absolutely EPIC!”
It certainly would. But I’m afraid I’m not interested in buying any Ethereum.
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Two rings for tonight’s fights
It’s very unusual but tonight’s action is taking place in two separate locations tonight.
A ring has been set up outside for all of the undercard fights, including the British title showdown between Fabio Wardley and David Adeleye (which should be the fight of the night).
After that, everybody is going to upstick and head to a brand new 22,000-seat arena for the main event.
Although it remains to be seen how many of the celebrities and dignitaries bother with the undercard in the first place.
And now to the heavyweights!
Every other fight on tonight’s card is a heavyweight contest. So expect fireworks.
Jack McGann beats Roberto Duran Jr
(Photo: Getty Images)
Alcibiade Duran is the son of the legendary Roberto Duran (one of my favourite fighters of all time, in case you were wondering) but that defeat sees his professional record slip to 12-4.
Mind you, his old man lost 16 professional fights so perhaps he shouldn’t throw in the towel just yet.
McGann improves to 9-0-1. He wins his first fight outside of his native country.
Fury vs Ngannou fight card gets underway
(Photo: Getty Images)
The undercard has started in Saudi Arabia and Jack McGann has won the first fight of the evening.
The 30-year-old super-welterweight from Liverpool has just stopped the American Alcibiade Duran with a huge left hook.
What a start.
Answering your Fury vs Ngannou TV channel questions
(Photo: Getty Images)
I’ve had a few emails asking me about TV details over the last hour, including a couple from Cameroon.
If you’re in the UK or Ireland the fight is being shown live on TNT Sports Box Office. You don’t need an existing TNT subscription to buy it.
If you’re in the US it’s on ESPN+. For almost everyone else it’s on DAZN.
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Sportswashing and boxing
Tyson Fury’s fight with Oleksandr Usyk will be boxing’s first undisputed contest since Lennox Lewis beat Evander Holyfield at Madison Square Garden in 1999 when all the belts were on the line.
Like Fury’s clash with the novice Ngannou, it will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A number of other sports have also hosted marquee events in the country, while several Saudi football clubs lured some of soccer’s biggest stars to their league earlier this year.
“Fuelled by a combination of oil, Manhattan’s brightest consultants and the disruptive zeal of (crown prince) Mohammed Bin Salman, we have never seen anything like this before — a joined-up, hyper-connected sports strategy where investments are all intended to serve a much greater purpose,” explains Simon Chadwick, a professor of global sport and geopolitical economy at the SKEMA Business School, previously told The Athletic.
But why is the country’s growing relationship with sport so controversial? And what is ‘sportswashing’? Go Deeper below.
GO FURTHER
The World Cup, golf, F1, cycling and more. Saudi Arabia is buying sport – this is why
‘Francis Ngannou has more of a chance than Conor McGregor’
(Photo: Getty Images)
Jay L has messaged in:
“Francis Ngannou has much more of a chance of winning than Conor McGregor ever did (against Floyd Mayweather, in August 2017). If only because he’s a heavyweight and so has the power to actually hurt Fury.”
Thanks for the message Jay. And thanks for giving me an excuse to use this picture.
Fury says he will face Usyk in December
(Photo: Getty Images)
Tyson Fury told the British broadcaster Sky Sports earlier this week: “We’ve signed the contracts. December 23, that's out there isn't it? It's only eight weeks away from Saturday. Why not?
“I've not even had a fight this year so to get two in before the end of the year would be fantastic.
“Double payday. There'll be a nice big turkey in the Fury household this Christmas!
“If it happens December 23, I'll be playing that song, ‘Driving Home For Christmas’.
“I won't land back in the UK until Christmas Eve, late Christmas Eve and if we get a delay I'll be spending Christmas with the reindeers in the airport!”
Have your say on Fury vs Ngannou
‘Crossover boxing’ or not?
We’ve had our first email of the day! This comes in from Elliott B:
I’m annoyed at myself for becoming invested in this fight. Tyson Fury will win, obviously, but it will be interesting to see him in action so close to fighting Oleksandr Usyk. Also people should stop calling this fight ‘crossover boxing’ in my opinion — Francis Ngannou isn’t some random social media influencer. He’s a heavyweight combat sports world champion!
I agree and I disagree Elliott — yes, I’m also a little frustrated with myself for becoming intrigued by today’s fight but, no, this is the very definition of crossover boxing! UFC champ or otherwise.
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Fury and Usyk come face to face
Tyson Fury has previously called Oleksandr Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion of the world, a “sausage”. He has also threatened the Ukrainian with legal action if he pulls out of their scheduled December bout.
But when the pair unexpectedly came face to face yesterday they instead embraced. “Come on, then, hug it out. Come on, fella, give me a hug,” Fury said upon spotting Usyk.
Usyk then hugged Fury so tight he lifted him off the ground. “Ahh, I needed that,” he said.
What will the rules be for the main event?
(Photo: Getty Images)
This is a straight boxing match. Which means no MMA rules are involved. The fight is scheduled for 10 three-minute rounds.
Most importantly, Fury’s WBC title will not be on the line. So, even if Ngannou stuns the world and defeats Fury, the Brit will not lose his heavyweight world title belt.
What time will the ring walks be?
DAZN — who will be airing the fight outside of the UK, Ireland, US and Canada — have said that the main card will start soon at 1pm ET / 6pm ET, with the main event ringwalks expected at approximately 5.40pm ET / 10.40pm UK.
That’s 20 to one in the morning for those attending the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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