Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou: What happened and what does it mean? The key questions left to answer | Boxing News

Tyson Fury edged out Francis Ngannou on a cut up choice on Saturday. It left a whole lot of questions that should be answered.

What occurred?

Fury, the WBC heavyweight titlist, needed to rise from the canvas to edge out former UFC champion Ngannou on a cut up choice.

Ngannou was having his first skilled boxing bout and levelled Fury with a left hook, earlier than happening to make the remainder of the 10-round contest extremely aggressive, in the long run profitable for one of many judges however conceding an in depth choice on the opposite two playing cards.

Wait, what?

Sure, a no-bouter (in boxing phrases) appeared to provide Fury, for most individuals the pre-eminent heavyweight in boxing at the moment, all he might deal with.

Ngannou arguably deserved to win it outright when Fury was definitely anticipated to manage and outclass the MMA star in a boxing match.

As an alternative Ngannou virtually engineered one of many greatest upsets within the historical past of the game.

Is Ngannou one of the best boxer on the planet now?

Maintain on, boxing can depend the likes of both Terence Crawford or Naoya Inoue as its most gifted fighter. Nor was this ever a 12-round title struggle so Fury was at all times going to retain his WBC world championship.

However Ngannou had just about one of the best skilled boxing debut we have ever seen. You’ll be able to’t name it a case of newbie’s luck as a result of Ngannou is an elite martial artist who’d excelled within the UFC.

That Fury signed an settlement to field Oleksandr Usyk subsequent signifies he was trying previous Ngannou, a grave error, however we do not know to what diploma Fury underperformed and Ngannou over-achieved. We have to see extra of Ngannou as a boxer, however he is gate-crashed the highest tier.

What does it imply for Tyson Fury?

Fury, the boxer, was meant to toy with Ngannou, the MMA fighter. That he did not, that many high-profile observers from each sports activities thought Ngannou ought to have gotten the choice, shall be embarrassing for Fury.

Fury has a boxing legacy, he beat Wladimir Klitschko and had an amazing trilogy of fights with Deontay Wilder. However that efficiency harm his fame.

Trying ahead, changing into the undisputed heavyweight champion, and combating British rival Anthony Joshua, would assist him safe a spot in heavyweight historical past.

Will we get the Fury vs Usyk undisputed championship struggle?

We are going to. Fury and Usyk have agreed to field each other for all 4 of the key heavyweight titles and so they reaffirmed that struggle shall be subsequent.

Earlier than Ngannou threw an almighty spanner within the works, they have been each eyeing that struggle for December 23 of this yr.

Nevertheless after Fury took some punishment towards Ngannou that date couldn’t be confirmed. Although Usyk’s group are pushing for December 23, Fury must assess how lengthy he’ll have to get better.

It is protected to say it ought to occur, however we nonetheless do not know when.

Should not Ngannou get a rematch?

If his efficiency towards Fury on Saturday raised questions, a rematch ought to present solutions. Although if Fury is locked into the Usyk struggle a rematch couldn’t be fast anyway.

Ngannou is mulling his subsequent choices and, having signed an settlement with PFL, his subsequent outing may very well be a return to MMA.

A Fury rematch could have enchantment for all involved, although it appears most definitely that each could have different fights first.

Will he struggle different boxers?

Ngannou has served discover that his punch energy is real, he’s powerful and his boxing is underrated.

He is made a reputation for himself within the boxing world now and different profitable fights shall be supplied to him. Anthony Joshua’s group has steered AJ vs Ngannou, Deontay Wilder would think about combating Ngannou (although he needs to field Joshua first).

He is likely to be 37 years previous however Ngannou has a future in boxing if he needs it.

Will we get extra MMA vs boxing fights?

A lot of these occasions are clearly money-spinners. Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor wasn’t aggressive however it was excessive profile. This was aggressive and will be cited for example to justify pitting a excessive degree UFC striker towards a high class boxer. So what subsequent? Sean O’Malley vs Gervonta Davis? Why not?

As for boxers going the opposite manner, that’s occurring too. Stars of the ladies’s sport are doing it. Claressa Shields has fought in PFL and undisputed super-middleweight champion Savannah Marshall is coaching up in MMA to begin competing in that sport as nicely.

What does it imply for boxing?

Francis Ngannou hasn’t destroyed boxing. Boxing was doing a superb job of that each one by itself, thanks very a lot.

Whether or not it is the failure inside the sport to match one of the best towards one of the best, time after time; whether or not it is boxing’s wrestle to successfully tackle efficiency enhancing drug use; whether or not it is the clear and current hazard of dropping its place within the Olympic Video games in future – this record might go on – boxing has a whole lot of extreme and deeply entrenched issues, and Ngannou serving up one thing of a humbling will not be the worst of them.

Boxing, extra usually than one would really like, could be a theatre of the absurd. It can be spectacular. The not possible dream of Francis Ngannou coming tantalisingly near changing into a actuality is a reminder that boxing will be each on the identical time.