On October 28, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou almost pulled off one the biggest upsets in boxing history. The Cameroonian fighter went toe-to-toe with one of the most elite boxers in the division and even dropped him to the canvas. While many agree Francis should have been the winner, others question if the event favored the champion Tyson Fury.
The aftermath of the battle of the baddest was followed by some controversial debates. Several fight fans believe that the scorecard was rigged and judges did not want Ngannou to win. However, the debates also feature the Gypsy King receiving extra time after he was knocked down by his opponent.
Recently footage of the nearly 7 feet fighter getting 23 seconds to recover after being floored is making waves across the internet. Several fans are angry and call the event rigged for giving the champion more than 10 seconds for recovery. However, they might not be aware of the rules.
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Fighters are generally given to the count of 10 to get up after they are dropped to the ground. The referee can then take a bit more time to check if the fighter can continue. Additionally, referees do tend to take a bit more than 10 seconds while counting to 10.
So even though Tyson Fury took 23 seconds to recover from the knockdown he was well within the rules. Regardless, Fury will never forget being dropped by Ngannou especially after it was rubbed in his face.
Why did Francis Ngannou taunt Tyson Fury after knocking him down?
Former UFC champion and now PFL fighter Francis Ngannou is considered one of the most devastating strikers on the planet. Over the years Ngannou has proven himself by taking out fighters at the top of their game with his destructive power. This was repeated yet again by Ngannou after he dropped WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury during his boxing debut.
While Francis is usually mild-mannered and respectful to his opponents, he made fun of Fury after flooring him. The 35-year-old got into Fury’s face and started dancing as the Brit tried getting to his senses. While it may seem out of line for Francis the whole celebratory taunt stemmed from a disrespectful comment made by Fury.
When both fighters touched gloves before beginning their bout, the 33-0-1 fighter trash -talked Francis. “Let me take you to school,” said Fury. However, Francis did not take it kindly and returned the favor in the third round itself.
“You motherf**, you are not taking me to school. That’s why when I knocked him down, I was dancing, like, ‘You’re a bad professor, motherf***. You’re a bad professor. How is that school going? Who is taking who to school?” said Francis.
Despite doing enough in his eyes Francis lost the bout. However, he has a lot more opportunities waiting for him after a successful boxing debut at Riyadh. Do you think Francis Ngannou becomes a boxing champion down the line ? Let us know your opinion in the comments below.