Despite training with Tyson Fury, Tom Aspinall admits he thought Francis Ngannou beat him.
Ngannou stunned the masses when he took WBC champion Fury to a split decision in their crossover boxing match this past Saturday in Saudi Arabia. The former UFC heavyweight champion also had the most significant moment in the fight, knocking Fury down in Round 3.
Aspinall isn’t as familiar with boxing judging as he is with MMA’s, but he thought Ngannou did enough to win.
“It’s hard to say because I don’t know boxing judging as well as I know MMA judging, but I personally thought Ngannou won,” Aspinall told TalkSport. “But like I say, I might be wrong. I don’t know the judging that well.”
Like the odds suggested, Aspinall expected an easy night for Fury.
“Shocking, absolutely shocking,” Aspinall said. “As someone who has been around Tyson Fury for a long time, I couldn’t believe it. I’m still shocked. I watched a couple of highlights again from it this morning. You’ve just got to give maximum respect to Francis Ngannou for what he’s done.
“To have that belief in himself, his full story is just inspiring. Like, he’s come from where he’s come from, sacked the UFC off, took the money. Everybody thought he was going to lose, let’s be honest, including me. I thought he was going to get smashed. And he did amazing, fair play to him.”
For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Fury vs. Ngannou.
