Tyson Fury: I Took Francis Ngannou Fight Like an Exhibition

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Tyson Fury says he underestimated Francis Ngannou so badly before their October 2023 crossover boxing match that he barely trained like it was a real fight. Fury, who survived a third-round knockdown before escaping with a disputed split decision, now admits the buildup never felt like a genuine contest to him.

Speaking to ALF Global, Fury explained that he separated boxing into tiers in his head, and Ngannou's bout didn't register the same way a fight against a fellow world champion would have. "No, I didn't not train for him because I didn't think he was a good fighter," Fury said. "I knew he was a good fighter, but to me it's levels to boxing." He went further, saying "when you do an exhibition fight, play, it wasn't really a fight, do you understand what I'm saying. It wasn't, in my mind, a fight, it's just an exhibition, a game." Fury contrasted that mindset with how Ngannou approached the night, noting "To him, to Ngannou, it was, 'Aaaah, big fight, I fight Tyson Fury!' To me, it was play, a game, you know what I mean?"

How Close Did Ngannou Come to Beating Tyson Fury?

Francis Ngannou, in his professional boxing debut, dropped Tyson Fury with a right hand in the third round before Fury battled back over the final seven rounds to win a split decision that plenty of observers thought Ngannou deserved. The most memorable moment of the bout occurred in Round 3, when Ngannou, competing in his first pro boxing match, landed a powerful punch that knocked Fury down. Fury beat the count and battled back over the remaining seven rounds to earn a split decision that was widely disputed by fans and the fighting community.

It wasn't the first time Fury had been badly hurt and come back to win. In one of the most incredible scenes in boxing history, Fury was seemingly knocked out cold in his first fight against Deontay Wilder in 2018. Fury miraculously rose from the canvas and went on to outbox Wilder, salvaging a split draw that Fury arguably won despite Wilder landing the biggest punch of the contest. Asked directly to compare the two men's power, Fury didn't hesitate. "Ngannou's a strong guy, big guy, but he doesn't punch like Wilder," Fury said. "No way."

What Happened to Francis Ngannou After the Fury Fight?

Francis Ngannou's performance against Tyson Fury earned him a second high-profile boxing match, but it did not go nearly as well. Ngannou parlayed his impressive performance against Fury into another high-profile boxing match in March 2024, when he faced Anthony Joshua. That sophomore outing went poorly for Ngannou as he was knocked out in dominant fashion by Joshua in the second round.

Fury was also asked about the broader trend of MMA fighters moving into boxing, pointing to other crossovers like Conor McGregor, who lost to the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a blockbuster crossover boxing match, and UFC legend Anderson Silva, who holds knockout victories over fellow former UFC champions Tyron Woodley and Tito Ortiz since transitioning to boxing in 2021. He noted that other current stars, including former lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, have expressed interest in trying boxing themselves, and Fury said he's all for it as long as the fighter can move the needle. "I think if they're popular and they're famous, then they can cross over into any other fight sport because it's about popularity today," Fury said. "How many tickets they can sell, how many views they can generate, for sure."

Betting Angle

Fury's admission is a reminder of how dangerous mismatched styles can be in crossover boxing, especially when a heavily favored boxer treats the assignment like a showcase instead of a fight. Ngannou's knockdown of Fury remains one of the biggest live-underdog moments the sport has produced in recent years, and Fury's own comments suggest the gap between his output and Ngannou's power was closer than his training reflected going in. For bettors, the lesson carries forward any time a boxing name takes on an untested but powerful crossover opponent: check preparation and motivation as closely as the record book, because a favorite who isn't training like the fight is real can still get caught.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Tyson Fury say about his fight with Francis Ngannou?

Tyson Fury admitted he did not train seriously for his October 2023 bout with Francis Ngannou, saying it felt more like an exhibition than a real fight and that he viewed it as 'play' rather than a genuine contest.

Did Francis Ngannou knock down Tyson Fury?

Yes, Francis Ngannou dropped Tyson Fury with a punch in the third round of their October 2023 boxing match before Fury rallied to win a split decision that many felt Ngannou deserved.