Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Latest boxing fight updates and reaction after controversial result in Saudi Arabia
Re-live all the action after Tyson Fury was knocked by and won a controversial decision against MMA star Francis Ngannou
Tyson Fury won a controversial decision against Francis Ngannou in the pair’s boxing match on Saturday night, surviving a knockdown by the MMA star in Saudi Arabia.
Fury entered Riyadh with an unbeaten professional record, while ex-UFC champion Ngannou was making his boxing debut. Fury, 35, did not defend his WBC heavyweight title in the fight, which went for all 10 scheduled rounds and saw Ngannou, 37, arguably do enough to beat the boxer.
The Cameroonian dropped the Briton with a left hook in Round 3, stunning those in attendance and the wider combat-sports world. Ngannou continued to outbox Fury for much of the bout, only to be denied a victory when the scorecards were read aloud.
After a close fight, Fury was named a split-decision winner, and he faced off with unified heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk, whom he is expected to fight next – also in Saudi.
Re-live all the action with our fight updates and results, below.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Opening ceremony
Okay! The ceremony is over. The ring walks are up next.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Opening ceremony
The stage just moved backwards, and the ring is emerging from a hole in the floor.
That bit was admittedly quite cool.
The main event is edging closer, I promise.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Opening ceremony
Singer Becky G has just finished her performance. Onto the next.
In the words of Ken Watanabe in 2014’s Godzilla, “Let them fight!”
Please.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Opening ceremony
All the performers, dancers included, are obviously very talented. And the visuals on display are relatively impressive.
But this is nothing close to being the stunning ceremony that was advertised. Maybe it’ll reach new heights as it goes on.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony is taking place as we speak. Rapper Lil Baby is performing at the moment.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony has still not begun. I wonder how Ngannou is feeling backstage. He’s not warming up right now – maybe he doesn’t want to overdo it – but is standing, swaying, and talking to members of his team.
Will these be some of the longest minutes of his life, or some of the shortest?
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Opening ceremony
This is the tedious bit. We wait for the ceremony to begin, before we can wait for the fight to begin.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Opening ceremony
Riyadh Season will officially kick off with an opening ceremony in a few moments.
Per ESPN, it has been arranged by the same producers who look after Olympic opening ceremonies and Super Bowl half-time shows.
Then, the ring walks...
In the crowd right now are Cristiano Ronaldo, Kanye West, Conor McGregor, Eminem, The Undertaker, Oleksandr Usyk – and many more familiar faces from the worlds of sports and entertainment.
Former UFC champions Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman are in Ngannou’s changing room. At one time, all three African-born fighters held UFC titles at once. In fact, they were the first three African-born champions in UFC history and remain the only ones to this day.
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