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: Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Junior Anthony Wright
Round 1
Wright is a former cruiserweight, and he definitely looks the smaller man in there. He uses that inherently quicker movement to dart around in the early exchanges, however.
A couple of nice shots from him, from varying angles, but he’s caught with a pair of nasty hooks and goes down!!! Wow!
Wright beats the referee’s count but immediately eats a clean right hook, and he’s shaken to his core! He’s still standing, but he’s frozen, and the referee steps in!
It’s all over in Round 1! As expected, dare I say it...
Arslanbek Makhmudov def. Junior Anthony Wright via first-round TKO (1:10)
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Junior Anthony Wright
Russia’s Makhmudov is 17-0 (16 KOs) at 34 years old. Eleven of his wins have come in the first round.
Meanwhile, American Wright is 20-4-1 (17 KOs) and 37 years old.
Makhmudov is the favourite here, and we may be looking at another early finish, based on his career so far...
Aaaaand we’re under way!
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Junior Anthony Wright
Just like the last two fights, all the bouts from here on out are heavyweight contests.
Next up: Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Junior Anthony Wright.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Moses Itauma def. Istvan Bernath
Itauma is actually a southpaw who is naturally right handed, which explains in part why he has such a powerful jab.
That was the shot that dropped Bernath, before Itauma got the finish with his opponent against the ropes later in Round 1.
Moses Itauma def. Istvan Bernath via first-round TKO (1:53)
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Moses Itauma vs Istvan Bernath
Round 1
Itauma with a couple of sharp jabs to the body at once. Now he adds a left hook.
Bernath wings out two counter hooks with mixed success. He’s already backed up against the ropes.
Itauma maintains the pressure, flicking jabs through his opponent’s guard. Bernath’s face is already reddened around his right eye.
OH! And Itauma puts down Bernath with a stern jab!!
Bernath beats the referee’s count but then eats a southpaw cross! Itauma gets a little overeager and misses with an uppercut, but then a right hook to the head wobbles Bernath!
Itauma follows up again, and the ref steps in! It’s all over in Round 1!
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Moses Itauma vs Istvan Bernath
While TNT Sports’ stream continues to fail and frustrate, the undercard continues, but thankfully we have just about enough picture to provide you with live updates!
Britain’s Itauma is still just 18 years old and is one of the most exciting prospects in the heavyweight division.
His pro record is 5-0 (3 KOs). Can the southpaw improve that streak here? Let’s find out!
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: TNT Sports stream fails as viewers left with screeching sound
Next up: Moses Itauma vs Istvan Bernath in yet another heavyweight clash.
But will fans see it? The TNT Sports stream is still down. ESPN+’s stream is working, however.
Here’s our Sports Editor, Jack Rathborn, with more on the matter:
Fury vs Ngannou stream fails as fans left with screeching sound
The fight in Riyadh, which sees boxing meet MMA, has left fans unable to watch the undercard and subjected to an unpleasant noise
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: TNT Sports stream fails as viewers left with screeching sound
Ten minutes into this fault, and I at least have hold music now, rather than that screeching sound. Hopefully it’s the same for others.
That said, better yet would be the stream actually working!
“We apologise for the break in transmission and hope to correct the fault shortly,” is what TNT Sports are showing at the moment. Nothing else.
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: TNT Sports stream fails as viewers left with screeching sound
TNT Sports’ stream has failed. All that viewers are getting is a TNT Sports logo and a piercing sound. It’s been ongoing for about five minutes.
One X user: “Right this ain’t a joke anymore lads, what the f*** is going on here, my ears are bleeding.”
Another: “Shout out to @tntsports for murdering my eardrums.”
One viewer says they have hold music, but this writer is still hearing nothing but a droning, screeching sound...
Fury vs Ngannou LIVE: Martin Bakole def. Carlos Takam
Bakole, who was a sparring partner of Tyson Fury in the lead-up to both men’s fights tonight, says he had an injury in camp. That’s a big reason why the 30-year-old came in so heavy.
“You can run but you can’t hide, I’m ready for everyone – in the UK, in America,” he says. The Congolese also expresses a desire to return to Saudi Arabia for another fight.
“We love Martin,” is the chant from the crowd in Riyadh.
Again, if you want to learn more about Bakole – and his sparring sessions with Fury – read our exclusive interview with him from earlier this week:
Martin Bakole: ‘Tyson Fury is the only boxer who can give me good sparring’
Exclusive interview: The Congolese, who believes he is boxing’s most avoided heavyweight, aims to take his anger out on Carlos Takam on the Fury-Ngannou undercard
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