Former two division world champion Carl Frampton believes MMA veteran Francis Ngannou was the rightful winner of Saturday’s crossover clash with Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia.
After ten rounds of action, Fury barely edged out a split decision victory.
While most expected a one-sided win for Fury, the bout played out in a much different manner.
Fury was shockingly dropped in the third round by left hand counter from Ngannou. As the fight played out, Ngannou cut Fury’s forehead with an uppercut and had the ‘Gypsy King’ in some trouble during the eight.
The scorecards were close, with Fury getting tallies of 95-94 and 96-93, while the third judge saw it for Ngannou with 95-94.
Frampton was in disbelief on what he witnessed.
“I thought Ngannou won that fight. At times I could not believe what I was watching,” Frampton said to TNT Sports.
“Francis came in to his first boxing match and was fighting the heavyweight champion of the world, how was he supposed to win? But in my eyes he won. He boxed beautifully at times.”
Middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. agreed with Frampton’s opinion.
He felt Fury was distracted by too many other things and didn’t train enough.
“I thought Ngannou won the fight. It was close but he was the aggressor, landed heavier shots and scored a knockdown. Fury deserved to lose after having so much trouble against a man who has never boxed before… too much time filming Netflix specials not enough time in the gym I’m guessing. Unlucky Francis,” Eubank Jr. stated.
Fury, who returned to the ring for the first time since last December, admits Ngannou was much better than he anticipated.
“That definitely wasn’t in the script,” Fury said. “Francis is a hell of a fighter, a strong, great puncher. I got caught round the back of the head [when I went down]. I wasn’t hurt. I got up and got back to my boxing. I got the win and that’s how it was. You can see it here, ring rust. Fair play to Francis, he cut my head here. It was a good fight.”
Fury is slated to stake his WBC belt when he faces WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA champion Oleksandr Usyk in a high-stakes undisputed fight on December 23.