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: Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye
What a dramatic end to that fight.
The fighters share a few words, seemingly of respect, which is nice to see.
Still unbeaten is Wardley, while Adeleye is defeated for the first time as a pro.
Wardley is all smiles, as you’d expect.
Fabio Wardley def. David Adeleye via seventh-round TKO (2:43)
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye
Round 7
Wardley with a snapping jab, but he hesitates on the follow-up right hook.
Lots of clinching ensues. And it’s there that Wardley lands a right hand and brutal left hook! He drops Adeleye hard!!
Adeleye sticks his blood-smeared tongue out at Wardley while on the canvas, then just about beats the count!
Wardley is going for the finish, pouring on heavy shots, and a right hook has him teetering! The referee steps in!
It’s all over! Adeleye shoves the referee! He gives him a bit of a punch to the ribs, too!
Wardley barks into the crowd! WOW!
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye
Round 6
Adeleye is warned for throwing to the back of Wardley’s head in the clinch.
The action resumes, and Adeleye connects with a jab. Decent counter left hook by Wardley, though.
Wardley with some good head movement to avoid a cross from Adeleye.
Adeleye with a decent left hook. Solid jabs by Wardley in response.
Adeleye sticks out a bloody tongue at his rival, but he’s blinking his left eye a lot; he seems bothered by it...
Six rounds done. Six more scheduled.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye
Round 5
There’s been an intriguing ebb and flow to this contest, but is Wardley taking command now?
He lands a double-jab and a hook. More effective jabs from Wardley, who can’t quite find a right cross to the body.
Clubbing left hook by Adeleye, who then goes for another but misses as Wardley rolls under it.
Wardley lands the right cross to the body this time, then gives Adeleye a look as if to say: ‘I know you felt that one.’
Adeleye’s head is snapped back by a jab in the last moment of the round.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye
Round 4
Wardley leads Adeleye in power punches landed (21-8), per ESPN.
The contest becomes somewhat bitty, with a fair bit of clinching from both boxers.
Wardley with a nice double-jab now, forcing Adeleye to cover up and resort to a wild left hook – which is off the mark.
Wardley stalks Adeleye and lands a solid right hook to the body.
Backstage, Ngannou is having his hands taped while listening to music in his headphones.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye
Round 3
Decent jab work from Adeleye. Wardley fires back with a cross upstairs. A scrappy phase ensues, before the referee separates the fighters and warns Adeleye over an elbow...
Wardley feints hard with a right hand, but Adeleye doesn’t bite.
Adeleye catches Wardley with an uppercut and a cross, with Wardley landing a hook between those shots.
Wardley misses on his next effort, and Adeleye mocks his rival by looking out into the crowd, suggesting that’s how far off-target the punch was.
Adeleye is finding a bit of momentum now. And as I write that, Wardley lands a fierce overhand right! Adeleye did a decent job at rolling with it, though...
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye
Round 2
The boxers clinch early in this round, with Wardley landing a solid right hook at close range.
They separate, and Wardley gets back to marching forward. Adeleye with a slick jab, which Wardley walks onto.
The Britons clinch again, and this time it’s Adeleye who gets off the better shot.
Lovely right cross from Wardley, and another! He catches Adeleye on the end of the second shot.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye
Round 1
Both men stand orthodox. Stern jab from Adeleye early on. He then misses with a clubbing left hook, before Wardley jabs to the body from range.
Wardley presses forward and has Adeleye circling to his own left. Wardley with a left hook to the body, before Adeleye covers up to the head.
BIG left hook upstairs by Adeleye! Wardley can’t roll with it, and it spins him to his right somewhat.
But Wardley gets after Adeleye in the final seconds of the round.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Fabio Wardley vs David Adeleye
Here we go, Wardley and Adeleye are both in the ring! This should be fun. Lots of needle between the British heavyweights.
Adeleye is 26 years old and 12-0 (11 KOs); Wardley is 28 years old and 16-0 (15 KOs).
Wardley’s British title is on the line, as is Adeleye’s WBO European belt, AND the vacant Commonwealth gold.
Let’s go.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments