EXCLUSIVE: Francis Ngannou WON against Tyson Fury in their Battle of the Baddest fight, insists Dan Hardy on Mail Sport’s new boxing podcast ‘The Hook’… as he reveals The Predator will make his PFL debut ‘early next year’
- Tyson Fury beat Francis Ngannou via split decision in Saudi Arabia on Saturday
- However, many felt the extremely impressive Ngannou deserved to win the fight
- LISTEN: Exclusive Tyson Fury interview on THE HOOK – our new boxing podcast
British MMA legend Dan Hardy has claimed Francis Ngannou deserved to beat Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Ngannou’s fight with Tyson Fury has been the talk of the combat sports world after the former MMA star took the Gypsy King all the way in Riyadh.
It was the first time Ngannou had stepped into the boxing ring yet he showed no signs of being a novice, before Fury was handed a split decision win by 94-95, 95-94, 96-93.
However, Fury’s victory in the crossover bout has been disputed by many since and Hardy joined that list as he insisted the impressive Ngannou deserved to win.
‘I still have it the same (an Ngannou victory),’ Hardy – who was in Riyadh for the fight – told The Hook, Mail Sport’s new boxing podcast. ‘I came back yesterday and watched it a couple of times, one with the volume on and I also muted it a couple of times so I could pay attention to what’s landing as opposed to the power of the shots.
British MMA legend Dan Hardy has claimed Francis Ngannou deserved to beat Tyson Fury
Fury ultimately won via a split decision victory, but the result was disputed by several people
‘I could maybe bring it around closer together to 95-94, but I’ve still got it 96-93 right now.
‘Then again, maybe I’m not scoring it like a boxer! I’m scoring it like a fighter and I feel like, for the baddest man on the planet, Francis won the fight.
‘He landed more power punches, he was five power punches ahead, but he was outstruck overall by 12 strikes and I’m like “well, how much do I value those 12 strikes over five power punches from Ngannou and the knockdown as well?”‘
Hardy continued: ‘I personally feel like he did enough to get the victory. It was a close fight. It was closer watching it back than what I remembered because I think surprise was hitting me at the same time and I was like “oh my goodness, what is going on here?” But yeah, I still think he did enough to win.
‘You have to stop the champ to beat the champ. That’s always been the vibe in boxing and unfortunately I think that might have been the case on the night.’
Hardy joined the Professional Fighters League (PFL) as Head of Fighter Operations of PFL Europe earlier this year.
Upon his departure from the UFC in January, the PFL snapped up Ngannou as their marquee name and Hardy revealed he would be making his debut next year, while he also kept the door open to more boxing bouts.
He added: ‘I’m hopeful that we’re going to see the PFl gloves on his massive fists at some point in the very near future.
Hardy was full of praise for Ngannou’s display and highlighted the power punches he struck
The British MMA legend revealed The Predator would be making his PFL debut early next year
‘The plan is for him to be fighting in the first half of next year, ideally in the first four months, and then we can see what he looks like back in MMA, we can see how his boxing skills transfer over to MMA.
‘Because you can see he has improved that range of his game, and then the challenge is trying to find someone that will step in there and fight him.
‘I’ve got a few good ideas and I know the matchmaking team are working hard on that as well. This keeps the door open for boxing as well. The WBC are going to rank him in their top ten.
‘There are options above and below him in the rankings that make a lot of sense, exciting fights against the likes of Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua, or even a little bit further down the rankings if you want someone like a Joe Joyce or a Derek Chisora, someone that would be a fun test and a good fight.’
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