Well, well, well! That’s the second Fury this month who’s needed a dodgy judges’ decision in a fight against a newbie. My boy and I watched it live and we both thought it was either a draw or Ngannou just edged it. You could tell by Fury’s subdued demeanour after the fight that in his heart he knew he’d been beaten. I felt sorry for Ngannou, but he took it with grace and dignity, though like you say, maybe he’d simply accepted the inevitable that the suits behind the scenes were never going to let him win. His backstory was already like some sort of superhero’s origin legend, and perhaps beating the world champ in his debut fight was just too far fetched as it might make the computer generated simulation we are living in break down.
I think Fury probably did score the points for the win. Not much question that Fury knows how to box and thats how you get the points -unless you win by knockout or refs decision. Now why Ngannou was unable to put it all together and stop Fury is another question. Fury did not look very fit, looked tired in fact during the fight and hit the deck whereas Ngannou did not. I expect Fury underrated the challenger and thought this would be easy. I'd like to see a fully fit Fury fight Ngannou after some serious boxing camp training. It'll never happen -Fury will fight Usyk, win and retire. This fight should be enough to light a fire in Fury to ensure he trains hard and gets in his best shape. Ngannou could become a serious contender with the right trainer & manager... I bet they're all on the 'phone to him as we speak.
Warning... old bastard 'jumpers for goalposts' diatribe. Fury has gone down seriously in my estimation. I always liked his style both inside & outside the ring. His demons are well known and he's managed them much better than such demons usually allow. Inside the ring he was a pleasure to watch, canny, disruptive and with real heart & strength to beat some impressive opponents but... He's taking the piss out of punters now... 50 fuggin million dollars for that!? A half baked show against a half baked 'boxer' in a horrid sports washing state. He either underestimated him & hadn't trained or has lost his abilities or just plain don't give a shit any more & just give me the money. What has happened to boxing? It's become some ghastly money driven circus event without a single honest principle from either the paymasters, promoters or fighters. Where are those solid, honest & tough (mentally & physically) men who were prepared to get into the ring & fight their peers? Guys, like Dave Boy Green, Joe Frazier, Haglar, Holmes, Ken Buchanan, Alan Minter, Duran, Lennox, Conteh, Charli Magri, Jim Watt, Tony Sibson, Dennis Andreas... the list goes on & on and I'm sure you'll all be able to add to it. Does such integrity still exist or is boxing, like most things, a reflection of the shallow money driven social media over hyped world we now live in? Bah & fuggin humbug
As I have said before (on here I think), t’was ever thus as the modern sport of boxing was born from the prize fighting that was part of the travelling circuses and fayres that roamed from town to town in the Victorian period. Also, as I’ve said before (again, on here I think), Fury seems to have lost interest and isn’t taking boxing seriously anymore. Rather like Ronaldo moving to that second rate Saudi team, he seems to be more focused on becoming the richest rather than cementing his legacy. Usyk must be absolutely rubbing his hands in anticipation of their fight after watching that performance, although, my Mystic Meg prediction is that the fight won’t happen.
Although I gave an agree rating I can't discard all my belief in Fury and if the fight with Usyk does go ahead his desire to be the better man will win him through... if it goes ahead of course.
I’ve watched the Fury Ngannou fight again. Closely. I think a split decision was probably about right. Although Ngannou decked him with a well timed hook, he didn’t really hit Fury with much else of note. Fury hit him with a couple of full blooded straight down the pipe right hands and the big man hardly flinched! Like hitting a rhino Ngannou looks an immensely strong man… But Fury definitely struggled with him and I bet he was pleased it was a 10 round fight and not the standard 12. It looks like Fury believed his own hype. That’s the issue when you surround yourself with sycophantic yes men. This nearly turned into a Tyson Buster Douglas moment. Fury was lucky enough to get away with a kick up the arse. This might focus him for his Usyk fight. We’ll see how good he really is next time around.
I agree. My son and I were talking about it yesterday and we came to exactly the same conclusion. Fury kept prodding away with the jab, which even if it didn’t hurt Ngannou, they were scoring shots. So, although it felt like Ngannou edged it, the numbers don’t lie. I’m not sure what the third judge was taking that night (apart from a bribe), because scoring it 96-93 for Fury was just wild, especially as the round he got knocked down in would have been 8-10 against.
I don't know anyone, who would turn down £50million for anything, and certainly not for doing something they consider themselves easily capable of and find enjoyable. Fury getting biffed -but certainly not losing- might be the best thing thats happened to him since winning his crown (for the second time). I am looking forward to him beating Usyk, and really wouldn't mind him sorting AJ too before he retires which I expect will be soon.
Yeah after a day's thought you guys are probably correct. Fairy's succinct report was the best I've read and as Jez said it's probably the best thing to happen to him. So perhaps it was a practise bout before the Uysk fight to clear the cobwebs were he seriously underestimated the task but also got paid handsomely for it. But as an old grump I still reckon someone's taking the piss mind...
I remember watching this fight live. Andries was too big and strong for Sibo. He steamrollered him eventually. Andries wasn’t the most talented fighter but he was teak tough. I think Tommy Hearns flattened him shortly after this. Dropped him with one of those ram rod right hands….
Yep... just goes to show why weight is so important in the fight game. Sibo is all heart though & you gotta repsect that. Shoudn't be too ashamed of that mind... many others shared the same fate. But what I didn't realise until just reading about it was that after that fight he moved to the States, asked to be part of the Kronk gym & regained the world title. As you say teak tough mentally & physically.
I watched an interview with Fury yesterday and he was constantly sniffing, kind of agitated/distracted and constantly looking over his shoulder. I wonder if he’s back on the gear again? This was in Saudi, and it would be a very brave man who bought cocaine in Saudi Arabia or smuggled it in themselves, but he does have a streak of madness in him, so it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.
Oof, charlie in Saudi? I doubt it. I don’t care who you are, your life is effectively over if caught over there with that stuff. He’s definitely behaving like a man that’s had his confidence knocked mind…
Indeed. But he does have an enormous reckless, self-destructive streak. Someone who said they were once on the verge of driving their Ferrari into a bridge at 190mph probably isn’t playing with the same deck of cards as most people.
Perhaps he's been at the local drug of choice which is an increasing Arab country favourite and mass produced in Syria to keep their economy ticking over. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/9/what-is-captagon-the-addictive-drug-mass-produced-in-syria Plus I'm not so sure Saudi is the uber clean & strict country we think it is. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/02/middleeast/saudi-drug-capital-mime-intl/index.html And besides what else are you gonna spend 50 million bucks on in Saudi?
Well, I hope he hasn’t been a silly boy or else he might end up having an appointment with the royal barber after Friday prayers
So it’s on. Again. Fury Usyk. 17th February apparently. And so far looks like I’ll be home for it! Yippee!! I’m not too excited about 23rd December with Wilder and AJ card. Eddie Hearn and co wringing every last penny out of two fights no one wants to see. AJ v Wilder I’d watch though…
That same old tradition was seen in more modern times ..... Roy " Pretty Boy " Shaw Lenny McLean "Man mountain " York Fearsome fighters in their day , but not a whiff of any technical skills among the lot of them ! Hearn , King , Warren ...... apart from being being boxing promoters , what else do those geezers have in common ? ..... just asking for a friend ..... Who are those "We" that you speak of ? You can definitely include me out of that ! ..... Ha !
