Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou LIVE RESULT: Usyk fight in limbo as Gypsy King REFUSES to confirm December bout – updates

Opinions

We’ve all got one! Lennox Lewis is confident that the right decision was made, while Carl Frampton says Francis Ngannou deserved to get the decision.

Lewis: “I felt Tyson Fury won, he was throwing a lot of punches. Ngannou surprised me. Showing poise and patience, waiting for that perfect opportunity.”

Frampton: “I thought Francis won that fight. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. We picked Tyson rationally, Francis coming in for his first boxing match, how could he win? In my eyes he won the fight. Fury struggled with his style. We thought Francis would come in and swing. He boxed beautifully.”

Rematch?

In a word? No. Tyson Fury reiterates that there is no rematch clause in the contract, and instead turns his attentions to Oleksandr Usyk – although December 23 looks a little bit unlikely given the damage Fury has taken tonight.

He said: “No rematch clause. I would like to do it again down the line but we got Usyk to deal with. That’s what next for us.”

I can bite

Francis Ngannou was extremely gracious in defeat, almost too gracious in all honesty.

He said: “I am feeling great, fantastic. It didn’t go my way, I might be beaten today, I might be wounded, but I can bite. We can run it back again, and I’m sure I’m gonna get better. This was my first boxing match, great experience.

“I’m not gonna give any excuse, I know I came up short, but I’m gonna come back with a little more experience of the game.

“At first I was a little nervous, now I know I can do this s***. The wolf is in the house. Tonight was to feel the water, and now I know the temperature.

“I came out from a long recovery and surgery, three months and a half. I worked hard and gave my best. I know myself. We’ll gather with my team and what we can do next to improve my game.”

That definitely wasn’t in the script

Quite a few boos ring around the arena when the decision was announced. I can see why.

Tyson Fury ignores those and continues with his interview instead.

Fury said: “That definitely wasn’t in the script. He’s a lot better of a boxer than we thought he’d be.

“He’s a very awkward man, and he’s a good puncher, and I respect him a lot. He was very awkward, he wasn’t coming forward; he was waiting for me to throw my punches then looking to counter.

“It’s a part of boxing [the knockdown], I got caught behind the head again. I got up and it was alright; I got back to my boxing.

“I don’t know how close it was, but I got the win and that’s what it is. I’ve been out the ring a long time again. You can see it in here – ring rust, everything. No excuses, though. He’s cut me across the eye there. It was a good, rough fight. Perfect.”