Crossover boxing is alive and well after Francis Ngannou, the ex-UFC heavyweight champion, dropped a razor-close decision to Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Three thoughts on a shockingly competitive fight between Fury and Ngannou…
This was the best crossover event ever
In recent years, crossover fights have been lucrative events. Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather generated more than $600 million in revenue. Jake Paul has made millions for a slew of ex-MMA fighters (Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, Nate Diaz) just for stepping in the ring. Logan Paul and Dillon Danis … never mind. What they have rarely been is competitive. Mayweather toyed with McGregor before stopping him and Paul has made memes out of too many UFC greats.
It’s why Ngannou, who has been out of combat sports for nearly 22 months and who has never boxed before, was given little chance against Fury, the lineal heavyweight champion who had knocked out his last four opponents. Oddsmakers installed Fury as high as a 14–1 favorite coming into the fight.
The oddsmakers—and everyone else—were wrong.
From the opening round it was clear Ngannou wasn’t going to be roadkill. He didn’t come out swinging. He came out boxing. He didn’t wing right hands. He peppered Fury with lefts. His game plan—which likely flowed more from Dewey Cooper, Ngannou’s trainer, than Mike Tyson, whose presence was more for the promotion—was excellent. His unconventional style forced Fury to make adjustments, including switching southpaw for several rounds early in the fight. In the third round, with Fury guarding against the right, Ngannuo clipped Fury with a left, dropping him to the canvas.
For all of Fury’s talk about a 12-week camp, he clearly didn’t take Ngannou seriously. He weighed in on Friday nearly ten pounds heavier than he did for his last fight, against Derek Chisora, and it showed. The footwork was sluggish, the jabs weren’t there and when Fury did uncork right hands they rarely landed clean.
MMA fans will scream robbery but the scorecards—96–93, 95–94 Fury, 95–94 Ngannou—were fair (Sports Illustrated scored the fight 95–94 for Fury). Still, it doesn’t matter. Fury won the fight. Ngannou won the day.
So what’s next?
Could we see a rematch? Possibly, but not in the foreseeable future. Fury has signed to face Oleksandr Usyk in a fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship that could take place as early as December 23. Ngannou has a lucrative deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) waiting for him. It’s likely that, for now, both will move on.
“I’m a fighter and I’m ready to fight any time soon,” Ngannou said. “We can run it back again and I’m sure I will get better. This was my first boxing match. It was a great experience. I’m not giving any excuse. I know I came up short. But I’m going to go back and work harder with a little more experience and a little more feeling of the game. And I will come back even stronger.”
Ngannou will have options. His return to MMA, already hotly anticipated, will generate even more interest after his performance against Fury. Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem and Junior Dos Santos are all options for his return to the cage. But Ngannou hinted after the fight that he may not be done with boxing, and there is a boatload more money for Ngannou to make there. How about a showdown against Anthony Joshua? Or Deontay Wilder? If Fury prevails over Usyk, he could fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
“At first, I was a little nervous,” Ngannou said. “This is a new sport that I never did. Now I can do this s—. So get ready.”
About Fury vs. Usyk: Fury may want to think twice before jumping right back into the ring. He looked sloppy against Ngannou. If he looks like that against Usyk, he will lose. Badly. Perhaps the challenge of Usyk will bring out a better version of Fury. But Fury better make sure that version is there before he faces him.
Crossover boxing is here to stay
There was some thought that Fury-Ngannou would bring an end to crossover boxing. Think again. The competitiveness of the fight will only embolden more MMA fighters to challenge boxers—and collect the paydays that come with it. Sean O’Malley-Gervonta Davis? McGregor-Canelo Álvarez? These events already generate huge business by luring in the fan bases of both combat sports. That Ngannou has proven that these fights can be competitive will only serve to drive more.
