Ngannou Knocks Down Fury, Loses Split-Decision

*** Highlights! Ngannou Nearly Sleeps Fury, Loses Razor-Thin Decision ***

Lineal MMA Heavyweight kingpin, Francis Ngannou, will cross into the ring opposite the best Heavyweight boxer on the planet, Tyson Fury, today (Sat., Oct. 28, 2023) at the Battle of the Baddest event from inside Riyadh Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ngannou made a bold choice in opting to test his value in free agency, and if nothing else, this bout is proof that his gamble paid off. “The Predator” has longed dreamed of making his boxing debut, and he couldn’t have landed a more high-profile opponent or event. Fury remains on top of the boxing world, undefeated and decorated with a multitude of titles on his resume.

It’s certainly a tall task for Ngannou, who does not get any kind of warm up opponent before stepping all the way to the top of the mountain. He’s accomplished incredible things in the past though, and if anyone has a puncher’s chance, it’s the former sand miner from Cameroon.

Live updates will begin to flow below the moment the two fighters make their way to the Octagon …

Well, the co-main event has been over for well over half an hour, but the broadcast has explained there will be an intermission until ring walks scheduled for 6 PM ET. Buckle down and wait a bit longer with us …

The minutes tick on, and both fighters are still in their locker rooms as of 6:20.

As of 6:30, “The Predator” is first out on his way to the ring, accompanied by Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya.

Followed shortly by “The Gypsy King!” Then, a handful of national anthems play, which hopefully means some actual BOXING is next.

Round One
Fury opens the bout with a big right hand swing. Ngannou tries to jab the body but takes another right in the process. Ngannou lands a glancing right of his own following a double jab. Fury flicks the jab at range. Ngannou touches the body with a couple punches. Both men working body jabs. Good right to the belly from Ngannou. Fury sneaks a clean right through the left hook of Ngannou.

Reasonably close round, but 10-9 Fury

Round Two
Ngannou starts the second with body jabs. Fury counters Ngannou’s check hook with another cross. Left hook to the body from Ngannou, and he lands a short combination in the clinch. Fury moving well from his back foot, sticking Ngannou with his jab. Fury using the clinch to stall his opponent’s combinations.

10-9 Fury
Round Three
Ngannou crashes forward with a 1-2-3 that lands well. Then, he targets the body with his right again. Fury doesn’t seem to have his foot on the gas pedal yet, but Ngannou is holding his own. Fury goes Southpaw, but Ngannou hits him on the break of a clinch with his right. Ngannou knocks down Fury with a left hook! Unbelievable! Fury is back on his feet, and he circles to the bell.

10-8 Ngannou

Round Four
Ngannou is riding a wave of confidence and starting exchanges, backing his opponent up. Fury digs a right hand to the body then clinches. A right hand wobbles Fury a bit — he looks off-balance from something! Fury lands the 1-2, then snaps another few jabs.

10-9 Fury
Round Five
Big trade of power shots opens the fifth. Triple jab from “The Gypsy King.” Ngannou goes Southpaw and is looking for an overhand left bomb. Fury seems to have a good understanding of his opponent’s timing, and he’s making his foe miss. Good right hand from Fury. Stiff jab next. Another. Ngannou looks to be a bit fatigued.

10-9 Fury
Round Six
Discipline from Fury, as he jabs and moves from the outside. Ngannou advances, landing a glancing right hand and left hook to the body. Little bit of clinch wrastlin’ from Ngannou. Ngannou with a short right hand, but Fury lands a couple lefts from his back foot. Snappy jabs from Fury. Right hand lands for Ngannou, but there wasn’t a ton on it. Close round.

10-9 Fury

Round Seven
Replay shows Fury landed a nasty elbow last round — tough. Ngannou cracks him with a nice cross to start the seventh. Long straight left scores hard for Ngannou! Two body punches from “The Predator.” Clean lead right from Fury. Ngannou lands a left hook and stuffs half a double leg.

10-9 Ngannou
Round Eight
Clean right hand counter scores for Fury as Ngannou tries to advance from the Southpaw stance. Two clean lefts land for Ngannou! Fury sneaks an uppercut. Short jab from Ngannou as Fury moves to clinch. Quite a bit of clinching this round, and Fury looks a little more fatigued. Ngannou lands some clubbing combinations. Uppercut from Ngannou! 1-1-2 from Ngannou! Fury is clinching out of necessity. Another close distance right from Ngannou. Fury is bleeding a bit from the nose.

10-9 Ngannou
Round Nine
Southpaw left begins the ninth for Ngannou. Stiff couple jabs land for Fury, and the two trade power punches. Another clean jab from Fury, but a lower output round overall from each. Stick, move, and clinch working effectively for Fury, though he eats a jab. Clear-cut round for “The Gypsy King,” and he rebounded well.

10-9 Fury
Round Ten
Fury evades some swings early on … barely. Ngannou touches the body with a combination then avoids a jab. Southpaw Ngannou is pressuring and showing the jab. Fury sticks him with a jab. Final minute. Ngannou lands a jab, then the two clinch. Ngannou tries a Superman punch! One last left hand trade between the two to close an uneventful round.

10-9 Ngannou

Official Result: Tyson Fury defeats Francis Ngannou via split-decision (96-93, 94-95, 95-94) — WATCH HIGHLIGHTS!

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For complete Ngannou vs. Fury: ‘Battle of the Baddest’ results, coverage and highlights click HERE.