World heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury on Sunday beat mixed martial arts fighter, Francis Ngannou in a split decision.
This was after their boxing went the distance in Saudi Arabia.
Fury was knocked down in round three by Ngannou. Despite this, the Fury was still strong to continue even though he was shaken.
Recall that the 35-year-old British fighter had a few days ago, laughed off his opponent as a “big fat sausage,” but afterward acknowledged that the 37-year-old Cameroonian had effectively kept him off-balance.
According to reports, Fury’s WBC heavyweight belt was not on the line in the “Battle of the Baddest” in Riyadh. Still, Saudi officials hoped it would further boost the Gulf kingdom’s reputation as a top-flight boxing destination.
With all parties desperate to lend the contest some sporting legitimacy, the WBC had fashioned a “Riyadh Champion” belt to allow the winner to strut around the ring at the end with something other than a big, fat cheque.
Fury has been linked with a £50 million ($60.6 million) payout from Sunday’s exhibition bout, while he has said in the British press that Ngannou will earn £10 million.
