Francis Ngannou reveals final decision on appealing controversial Tyson Fury boxing defeat

Boxing news Francis Ngannou Tyson Fury

Boxing news: Francis Ngannou has said he won't appeal his defeat to Tyson Fury

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 02/11/2023

- 09:30

The Gypsy King won their battle in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night

Francis Ngannou has revealed he won't be appealing his defeat to Tyson Fury on Saturday night.

The former MMA star performed excellently in Saudi Arabia and knocked his opponent down in the third round.


Fury was then able to respond and won via split decision, with the veteran unconvincing on the night.

Many feel Ngannou was unlucky to be declared the loser, especially given the way he rattled his rival at times during their showdown.

Boxing news Francis Ngannou Tyson Fury

Boxing news: Tyson Fury was knocked down by Francis Ngannou in round three of their fight in Saudi Arabia

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But the 37-year-old has insisted he won't be appealing the decision because he has no chance of getting the outcome overturned.

"Who am I gonna appeal to? [The British Boxing Commission]?" he told TMZ.

"I have no chance. I think that's just another way of humiliation."

Fury is looking to move on from his fight with Ngannou, with the Gypsy King primed to finally go up against Oleksandr Usyk.

The Gyspy King's battle with the Ukrainian is currently pencilled in for December 23.

There is, however, a possibility that the fight will be pushed back.

Fury is nursing a few injuries after his bout with Ngannou and doesn't want to fight Usyk without being fully prepared.

That's despite the Brit being at risk of a huge £200million lawsuit if he pulls out of the fight.

Ngannou, however, wants a rematch.

And he's also keen for a fight to happen before Fury finally faces Usyk in the ring.

"My best scenario in boxing is to wait for Fury," he continued.

"If Usyk can step out and let me fight Fury, I'll fight Fury, then I'll let them do whatever they do.

"I'll go back, maybe do some MMA fight and come back with some people in boxing.

"I'm planning to fight potentially twice next year, [starting] maybe February or March."

Ngannou also said: "The rematch is what I want next the most.

"As for right now I feel like there is a lot of options for me, but I want to choose wisely, and I would go for the rematch first."

Meanwhile, Billy Joe Saunders has criticised Fury for his performance against Ngannou - but insisted the outcome of the fight wasn't a robbery.

"It wasn't a robbery, it was very close, it could've gone either way and obviously Tyson got the nod," he said.

"He's the champion.

"But, it wasn't really Tyson whatsoever, from the word go, I knew he was going to have a tough night because I know Tyson inside out.

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Boxing news: Francis Ngannou is seeking a rematch with Tyson Fury

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"Normally you see him standing up tall, getting behind that jab, using his feints and I sort of... look if someone said to me you're fighting someone from the UFC in the boxing ring, I would probably take my eye off the ball a little bit, maybe not go through the fine details.

"The reality is with a novice you need to make him look at the right hand and then hit him with the left hand, that's what he needed to do.

"And we know Tyson can do it, he's had an off night.

"If Tyson was a fraction of himself, Ngannou wouldn't lay a glove on him, but I've seen Tyson in sparring, I've seen the way he acts in sparring when he's fighting certain people and to me it was like he wasn't switched on.

"And fair play to Ngannou he was a lot better than people thought."

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