Tyson Fury reveals why he didn’t train seriously for Francis Ngannou years after controversial victory

In October 2023, Tyson Fury squared off with Francis Ngannou in the boxing ring, with the Brit securing a victory by points.

Yet, the scorecards proved controversial after Ngannou’s performance, with the Cameroonian knocking Fury down during the fight.

Despite impressing in the bout, several fans believed that Ngannou could have made a move into boxing due to his performance against one of the world’s best heavyweight fighters, but following his defeat to Anthony Joshua the 39-year-old has not entered the ring as a boxer again since.

Now, three years on from the fight, the Gypsy King has explained in an interview with ALF Global why he did not train seriously for the fight with the mixed martial arts star.

In his reflection on his fight with Ngannou, Fury said: “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?

“Ngannou’s a strong guy, big guy, but he doesn’t punch like [Deontay] Wilder.”

Fury’s comparison of Ngannou to Wilder could have been the British boxer stressing his point to the different levels in fighting and what is needed to be a top boxer.

The 38-year-old and Wilder had an epic trilogy of fights, with the pair drawing the first, before Fury would claim the WBC heavyweight title from the American and the vacant The Ring heavyweight title before defending these in the third clash.

This revelation from Fury comes as the boxing world sit patiently awaiting the confirmation of when his fight with fellow Brit, Joshua, is set to take place.

Joshua and the Gypsy King have signed a contract to square off in the ring, but there is a dispute about where the fight will take place; at present, it is believed the most likely venue would be Madison Square Garden in New York on November 20.