TYSON FURY controversially avoided a potentially career-damaging defeat with a shutout of Francis Ngannou in their circus show of a clash.
The Gypsy King delayed the progression of the division and a mouthwatering undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk to take on MMA’s lineal heavyweight champion in a farcical Saudi showdown.
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The boxing world was rightly up in arms when Fury opted to take on novice Ngannou, who had only laced up 8oz gloves during his briefest of stints as a kickboxer, instead of unified king Usyk.
But they can rest assured the Wythenshawe warrior will finally throw down with the Ukranian after a controversial points win over the former UFC star.
After having his hand raised, he said: “That definitely wasn’t in the script. Francis is a hell of a fighter.”
Fury came out swinging early doors and rocked back the head of The Predator with a big overhand right.
Ngannou quickly recomposed himself and started flicking out a somewhat telegraphed jab.
And he soon returned the right hand that Fury landed in the opening seconds.
Ngannou tried to close the distance with double jabs but Fury was wise to the smart tactic from the Cameroonian.
Ngannou tried to close the distance with jabs to the body early in the second but Fury proved to be too elusive for him.
Fury, however, also struggled to get in range to land his power shots – although he was seemingly more than happy to work at range.
Ngannou found a home for a good left hook and followed up with some hard uppercuts in the clinch moments later.
A cut opened up on the forehead of The Gypsy King, although it was unclear what caused it.
Fury tried to bamboozle Ngannou with a barrage of feints early in the third but failed to do so.
And he soon found himself eating a good counter left hook which drew a big reaction from the fans in attendance.
A short chopping right hand following a break from the clinch landed from Ngannou soon after.
And Fury found himself on the canvas following a huge left hook that caused the entire arena to rise up in disbelief.
Fury beat the count and managed to make it to the end of the round.
Ngannou looked visibly confident in the fourth – and that confidence saw him land a stiff right hand.
Fury continued to be troubled by the former UFC star’s unorthodox style and found himself taking more shots than anyone expected.
Fury almost found himself on the receiving end of another Ngannou missile in the closing stages of the fifth, much to the frustration of his team.
Another straight right hand early in the sixth gave Fury a reminder, as if he needed another, that he was in a real dogfight.
Ngannou’s chin was tested by a stiff one-two with a minute of the round remaining. But it held up and he continued to walk down the Brit.
Fury tasted a big left hand early in the seventh shortly after Ngannou went into an unusual southpaw stance.
He had to pick himself off the canvas after slipping into and almost rugby-tackling Ngannou midway through the stanza.
Ngannou got a little bit desperate in round eight and walked into a stinging combo.
But he came roaring back with two piston left hands which backed Fury into the corner, which he eventually circled out of.
Fury was sent into retreat mode again by another rasping combo, which Fury responded to with an uppercut wide of the mark.
Another flurry saw Fury go on the defensive, much to the shock of his corner and loved ones in attendance.
Ngannou used the final round to regain his composure and cardio for what would be the biggest round of his combat sports career.
Fury, bizarrely, showed no urgency in the final stanza and seemed confident that the judges would award him the decision.
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And, stunningly, didn’t go forward and look for the kill at all.
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