Tyson Fury has suggested he did not take his fight with Francis Ngannou seriously enough, three years after his controversial clash with the mixed-martial-arts star.
In October 2023, Fury was shockingly knocked down by Ngannou before winning on points, but the scorecards proved controversial. There was to be no rematch for Ngannou, however; Fury went on to lose to Oleksandr Usyk with the undisputed titles on the line, while the ex-UFC champion was knocked out by Anthony Joshua in two rounds.
Reflecting on his fight with Ngannou, who has not boxed since his loss to “AJ”, Fury told ALF Global on Wednesday: “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?”
Fury, 38, also compared the Cameroonian’s power to that of Deontay Wilder, whom Fury stopped three times in an iconic trilogy – after a controversial draw in their first bout.
“Ngannou’s a strong guy, big guy, but he doesn’t punch like Wilder,” Fury said. “No way.”
American Wilder is widely considered the hardest hitter of his generation.
Fury is contracted to face fellow Briton Joshua later this year, but the long-awaited heavyweight fight is stalling yet again.
After years of difficulty getting the bout made, there is now a dispute over the location; Joshua’s contract dictates that the fight must take place in Britain, while Fury’s is seemingly more flexible, and other key figures reportedly want the US to host the contest.
20 November is the date currently being mooted, with New York City’s Madison Square Garden the likeliest venue.
Joshua, 37, last fought in July, surviving two knockdowns in round one to stop relative unknown Kristian Prenga in round two. One day earlier, Fury stopped a 46-year-old Mariusz Wach in seven rounds in Thailand, although the fight was broadcast nowhere.
Discussing the ongoing delay to Joshua vs Fury, the latter’s brother Shane told Boxing King Media this week: “It don’t affect us, because we’re fighting on that date anyway. Tyson’s over in America now, training as we speak.
“So, if it’s not [Joshua], Tyson will be fighting on that day, so it really don’t affect us. It really makes no difference to us, because we will fight on that date either way.
“Listen, it ain’t for me to talk about, but either way: we’re there and it’s a big fight. A big, big, big fight. A big fight. How can I say anything, but it’s a big fight. There’ll be someone lined up for a big, big fight.”
