Francis Ngannou Issues Statement After Controversial Decision: "A Shame For Boxing"
Francis Ngannou took to his YouTube channel after losing a hard-fought, closely-contested decision to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, nearly shocked the world after dropping Fury in the third round and earning the nod on one of the three judges' scorecards.
But it wasn't enough, as Fury, who hadn't competed in nearly a year, edged Ngannou in a back-and-forth classic.
Ngannou said he did enough to win the fight and argued boxing's judging criteria need to be re-evaluated to prevent incorrect scorecards from occurring.
“I’m confident that I won that fight, but I wasn’t surprised of what happened last night,” Ngannou said. “I knew that it would’ve happened. … I think it’s a shame for boxing. I think it’s a shame for this sport. I think those judges or whoever, they should be sanctioned. I want to understand why those judges judge like that.”
Ngannou added a rematch with Fury is possible at some point down the line, but with his recent PFL signing, his focus will shift back to MMA as 2024 draws closer.
"...I do believe we’re going to run this back,” Ngannou said. “In the meantime, I still have some MMA fights. I might go to PFL, get some fights and then come back to boxing.
“We’re going to meet some time soon. It’s been almost two years since I last competed, so I think I should be back in five to six months and at least compete twice next year."
Ngannou left the UFC after the promotion failed to meet the former heavyweight champion's requests for long-term healthcare and an opportunity to box, among other factors. His departure from the UFC left the heavyweight title vacant, which Jon Jones won in March.
Ngannou made it clear his story is far from finished.
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