Tag: Tyson Fury

Ex-UFC star Francis Ngannou backed to fight Tyson Fury in future rematch clash: ‘he’s earned it’

Francis Ngannou backed to fight Tyson Fury in rematch he's earned it UFCFormer undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has been backed to rematch unbeaten WBC heavyweight boxing titleholder, Tyson Fury…

Francis Ngannou backed to fight Tyson Fury in rematch he's earned it UFC

Former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou has been backed to rematch unbeaten WBC heavyweight boxing titleholder, Tyson Fury in the future – according to a Top Rank exec, who claims the Cameroonian’s performance against the latter back in October “earned” him a re-run with the Morecambe native.

Ngannou, a former undisputed heavyweight champion under the UFC banner, put pen to paper on a multi-fight deal with the PFL (Professional Fighters League) at the beginning of the year, following his departure from the Dana White-led organization.

Francis Ngannou backed to fight Tyson Fury again

Yet to make good on a debut with the North American-based mixed martial arts promotion, Ngannou made a professional boxing debut back in October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, headlining a pay-per-view card in the Middle East – in an eventual split decision loss to Fury, with many pundits and critics calling the result dubious and controversial.

And maintaining he would fight Fury again in the future in a potential boxing rematch, Batié native, Ngannou has been backed to do just that – according to Top Rank boss, Todd DuBoef – through his October display in Saudi Arabia.

“That’s an earned ability to get the rematch,” Todd DuBoef told Sky Sports. “He (Francis Ngannou) earned that. I think Tyson (Fury) is regretful. He blamed himself. He thought he had an off night. He said, ‘I took it lightly, it was all one me.’ Didn’t point fingers, which was good.”

“Ngannou outperformed anybody’s expectation and as a result of that, you have all the components to say, hey, I want to see this again and that creates and warrants a rematch,” DuBoef continued. 

Booking his own return to the squared circle before the end of this year, Fury will take on Ukrainian favorite and unbeaten world champion, Oleksandr Usyk in the Middle East in a long-anticipated heavyweight title unification bout in February – with the event billed as ‘Ring of Fire’.

Who wins in a future rematch: Francis Ngannou or Tyson Fury?

Ex-UFC star Francis Ngannou maintains he won controversial boxing fight with Tyson Fury: ‘Definitely, I was robbed’

Francis Ngannou claims he was definitely robbed in boxing fight with Tyson FuryWeeks on from his controversial professional boxing match with undisputed WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury last month, former undisputed…

Francis Ngannou claims he was definitely robbed in boxing fight with Tyson Fury

Weeks on from his controversial professional boxing match with undisputed WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury last month, former undisputed UFC heavyweight kingpin, Francis Ngannou has claimed he was “robbed” by judges – as he dropped a hugely-controversial split decision defeat.

Ngannou, a former undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, headlined a Riyadh Season event in Saudi Arabia last month, suffering a hugely contentious split decision loss to the unbeaten, Fury – over the course of 10 rounds in the Middle East.

Turning in a valiant effort against the Morecambe native, Ngannou managed to shock the mixed martial arts and boxing communities alike – landing a massive knockdown in the third round courtesy of a left hook.

Francis Ngannou claims he was “robbed” in Tyson Fury fight

Claiming in the immediate aftermath of his decision loss to Fury that if the Morecambe native were honest, he would admit he should have lost on the scorecards, Ngannou has further claimed he was “robbed” by the judges.

“Who am I gonna appeal to? I have no chance,” Francis Ngannou told Paper Route. “I think that’s just another way of humiliation.Definitely, I was robbed. “But, also I have an understanding that you can’t just walk in and disrupt a system like that. I think it was a very bad look for boxing, for everything – and there was a lot of business involved. So, some judged just sacrificed themself and take the hit, and save the face. But, they know that that was a dirty job. There wasn’t even a judging, they wasn’t even judging those fights. There was just like, ‘Okay, we’re not going to lose.’”

“I think even if there was a knockout, they would have found a way to make me lost that fight – because I should have won that fight,” Francis Ngannou continued. “The guy give me elbow. He elbowed me and they didn’t even – yeah – and, the referee didn’t even say anything. If that elbow had hurt me? I’m sure they would have count that as a punch and give him a decision, right.” 

Despite his feelings toward his first bout with Fury – Batié knockout artist, Ngannou has staked his claim for a rematch with the incumbent WBC heavyweight champion as soon as next year. 

Would you like to see Tyson Fury fight Francis Ngannou again next year?

Ariel Helwani Claims Ngannou-Fury Fight Brought in Over 400,000 Buys Worldwide: ‘You’re ignoring all these numbers’

Ariel HelwaniRenowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani is disputing recent reports that Francis Ngannou’s professional boxing debut against Tyson Fury in…

Ariel Helwani

Renowned MMA journalist Ariel Helwani is disputing recent reports that Francis Ngannou’s professional boxing debut against Tyson Fury in Riyadh bombed.

Since walking away from an offer that would have made him the highest-paid heavyweight in UFC history, Francis Ngannou has been continuously doubted. Fans and even some of his peers thought he was foolish for turning down Dana White’s offer. Many claimed he “fumbled the bag” after turning down massive deals with the BKFC and ONE Championship.

Even after signing a ground-breaking deal with the Professional Fighters League and bagging a big-money fight with Fury, ‘The Predator’ was still the subject of significant criticism.

Now, the boo-birds have a new narrative, reporting that Ngannou’s critically acclaimed performance against ‘The Gypsy King’ only brought in 67,000 pay-per-view buys. Everywhere you turn, that number, which was first reported by Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer, seems to be all anyone wants to talk about.

However, Ariel Helwani says that’s only one small piece of the puzzle.

During Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, Helwani reiterated that the numbers being reported by Meltzer only include purchases of the event on ESPN+ and through U.S. cable and satellite providers, completely ignoring how the event did around the world.

“The new thing is that [Ngannou] bombed on pay-per-view,” Helwani began. “Let me explain a couple of things to you because there’s a lot of new people to the fight game. Number one; the A-side was Tyson Fury so if anyone is to be blamed, it’s Tyson, and he should not be blamed. I believe the way they announced it. Having it on Saturday afternoon… All these things are factors, but that doesn’t even matter because I see a lot of people posting this 67,000 number and using that as some sort of gotcha moment.

“That number that you keep seeing parrotted around isn’t the entire actual number, and I can’t believe I even have to sit here and explain this to all of you,” Helwani continued. “Again, the guy who was never even arguing in favor of the pay-per-view or not. It’s ESPN+ and U.S. numbers. That’s what that number is from Dave Meltzer who’s been doing this for a very long time.

“My sources tell me it’s a little bit above that, but let’s just say it’s nowhere above 100,000. That’s the ESPN+ on Saturday afternoon and American pay-per-view numbers. Completely ignoring the fact that it also on TNT Sports Box Office, aka the network formerly known as BT Sport, in the U.K. where Tyson is his biggest draw. That’s where he has the most drawing power. Ignoring that… Ignoring the Canada number, which I don’t think is a massive one, and ignoring the DAZN number which is everywhere, but the U.S., the U.K., and Ireland. You’re ignoring all these numbers.”

Ariel Helwani Offers His Global Estimate for Fury vs. Ngannou

So what exactly are those numbers? According to Helwani, the total number of pay-per-view buys is, at minimum, 400,000, but is likely to be significantly higher once all the receipts roll in.”

“Those numbers are still not 100 percent, but I can tell you with great certainty right now, and I’m being extremely conservative when I say this, the number you should be throwing in my face isn’t 67,000. It’s not even 100,000. The number you should be throwing in my face is 400,000, and I feel very confident it will be above that,” Helwani said.

“That’s at its base. 400k. You’re not seeing that number parrotted around and that’s fine. You might be saying, ‘400k? That’s nothing compared to what the UFC does.’ Okay, maybe, but that would also make it the highest-selling pay-per-view involving an MMA fighter in an event not promoted by the UFC.

“Obviously [Conor] McGregor and [Floyd] Mayweather did way more, but it was also promoted by the UFC.”

Tyson Fury tipped to retire following controversial fight with Francis Ngannou: ‘Realistically, that might be him now’

Tyson Fury tipped to retire after Francis Ngannou fight that might be him nowOff the back of his controversial split decision win over former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou last month, undisputed…

Tyson Fury tipped to retire after Francis Ngannou fight that might be him now

Off the back of his controversial split decision win over former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou last month, undisputed WBC heavyweight boxing titleholder, Tyson Fury has been backed to potentially hang up his gloves once more – by his brother, Shane, who claimed that the 35-year-old could very well call time on his career.

Fury, the current undisputed WBC heavyweight champion, returned to the ring back in October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, battling over the course of 10 hard-fought rounds against Batié knockout artist, Ngannou.

And emerging with a close, contentious split decision victory over the professional debutante, Tyson Fury’s performance has so-far been slated and dissected by those within both the mixed martial arts and boxing communities.

Suffering a massive knockdown in the third round, Tyson Fury was sent to the canvas for the first time since his first of three bouts with former WBC heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder years ago, however, managed to survive and punch himself to a split judging win in the desert.

Seeing an immediate December 23. turnaround against fellow heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk in a slated heavyweight title unification fight, Fury is instead expected to fight the Ukraine native in February of next year, as he deals with two cuts suffered against Ngannou, as well as significant swelling.

Tyson Fury tipped to weigh up future once more

However, according to Fury’s brother, Shane, he would not be at all shocked if the WBC gold holder once more called time on his illustrious career.

“Listen, it was a combination of a lot of things,” Shane Fury told Boxing King Media. “It was a combination of having twelve months out of the ring and having your trainer with you, trying to put your bad habits right that you have learnt in the last ten months, and the man [Francis Ngannou] being a lot better than what he thought he was going to be.”

“Realistically, that might be Tyson now, I’m hoping not but at the end fot he day, he is 35 years old and people go overnight,” Fury explained. “I’m hoping that’s not Tyson because you see him much different in the gym. It was chalk and cheese, I’m hoping that’s not the case.”

As far as Ngannou is concerned in the immediate aftermath of the bout, he has called for a rematch with Fury, potentially with WBC heavyweight spoils on the line next year. 

Do you expect Tyson Fury to hang up his gloves after his win over Francis Ngannou?

Francis Ngannou ‘Will Absolutely Make’ PFL Debut in 2024 After Fury Loss, Says CEO

Expect to see Francis Ngannou taking PFL fights in the upcoming year. “In 2024 [Ngannou] will absolutely make his debut with PFL, and he’ll return to the cage…

Expect to see Francis Ngannou taking PFL fights in the upcoming year. “In 2024 [Ngannou] will absolutely make his debut with PFL, and he’ll return to the cage…

Dana White defends Jon Jones amid Fury – Ngannou fight: ‘He’s the best fighter in the world and he’s the best fighter ever’

Dana White brands Jon Jones best fighter ever after Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou fight UFCAmid the billing of a ‘Battle of the Baddest’ fight in the Middle East earlier this month between WBC…

Dana White brands Jon Jones best fighter ever after Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou fight UFC

Amid the billing of a ‘Battle of the Baddest’ fight in the Middle East earlier this month between WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, and former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Nagnnou, organizational CEO, Dana White has claimed his roster still houses the best fighter in the world – and of all time, in fact, in the form of undisputed titleholder, Jon Jones.

Headlining a pay-per-view event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia earlier this month, Batié native, Ngannou made his professional boxing debut against WBC heavyweight champion, Fury – going the distance over the course of 10 rounds in a close, split decision loss to the Morecambe native.

Turning heads with his performance, former UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou managed to turn in a spectacular third round knockdown on Fury – dropping the undefeated Briton with a massive left hook in close. 

And heaping praise on Ngannou amid their rift following the Cameroonian’s departure from the UFC at the beginning of the year, the above-mentioned, White claimed that it was “crazy” how the former forced Fury all 10 rounds in the Middle East.

“The fact that he (Francis Ngannou) went 10 rounds with Tyson Fury is crazy,” Dana White said during a Triggered video podcast appearance. “He just went 10 rounds with Tyson Fury, Conor (McGregor) made it 9 or 10 with Floyd (Mayweather), Anthony Pettis just beat Roy Jones Jr. – I know Roy is freaking 60 years old, or whatever, but I don’t know what the hell is going on. It’s crazy.”

“I didn’t see the fight, but the face that he went 10 rounds is unbelievable,” Dana White explained. “I don’t care. Listen, these guys, at some point everybody is going to move on. Everybody has to do what’s right for them and make money for their families, so whatever they’ve got to do, they’ve got to do.”

Dana White touts Jon Jones as the best fighter of all time

However, as far as the ‘Battle of the Baddest’ goes – and the immediate aftermath of the bout, White has stressed that his current undisputed heavyweight champion, Jones lands that moniker – as well as the status as the best professional fighter ever.

“The best fighter in the world and the best fighter ever is Jon Jones,” White explained. 

Do you agree with Dana White’s appraisal of UFC star, Jon Jones?