Freak show or needle mover: was Fury-Ngannou good for boxing?

Packing a punch: Despite never having boxed before, Ngannou more than held his own against the reigning WBC heavyweight champion. In the third round, he landed a left hook to drop Fury to the canvas. | Photo credit: Getty Images

At long last: Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who was in the audience, and Fury engaged in a stare-down inside the ring to build the hype for their upcoming fight, which will crown an undisputed heavyweight champion after decades. | Photo credit: Getty Images

Former WBA featherweight champion Barry McGuigan, like many boxing purists, turned his nose up at the prospect of a bout between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.