"To me, it was play, a game" - Tyson Fury Discusses Francis Ngannou Boxing Match

Three years on from the boxing match that had the world watching, Tyson Fury has admitted that he did not take his fight with former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou seriously enough. 

In October 2023, 'The Gypsy King' narrowly outpointed Ngannou ahead of taking on Oleksandr Usyk. Winning on the scorecards via split decision (94-95, 96-93 & 95-94), many believed that Fury got a favourable decision on the night.

After being dropped by Ngannou in the thrid round, Fury rallied and was able to just do enough to keep his undefeated record in tact and avoid major embarassment.

Tyson Fury Opens Up on Francis Ngannou Bout

Admission

Discussing the 2023 bout with ALF Global, Fury admissed that: 

“I didn’t not train for him, because I ‘didn’t think he was a good fighter’. I knew he was a good fighter, but to me it’s levels to boxing.

“So, if I’m fighting a world champion, then in my mind, he’s a world champion; everything’s good. But 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. To him, to Ngannou, it was: ‘Ah, big fight. I fight Tyson Fury!’ To me, it was play, a game. You know what I mean?”

This would largely explain why Fury came into the bout looking slow, out of shape and highly unmotivated. It would also allude to why Anthony Joshua did so well against Ngannou when the two men fought. Unlike Fury, Joshua clearly respected the skill and power of the Cameroonian and brutally knocked him out in just two rounds.

When comparing heavy hitters, Tyson Fury admitted that although the aura around Ngannou being a heavy hitter is well documented, he claims that "he doesn't punch like (Deontay) Wilder, no way".

Fury had a well documented trilogy with Wilder, coming out on top in two of their three battles, with their first fight going to a draw.