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Francis Ngannou, gained widespread recognition in the boxing world last October when he faced WBC titlist Tyson Fury in a thrilling 10-round "crossover" bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The former UFC heavyweight champion surprised fans by landing a hook in the third round that dropped Fury, showcasing Ngannou's legitimate punching power.
In a recent interview with Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Ngannou admitted that Fury packs a significant punch, emphasizing that boxers generally possess more formidable striking abilities compared to mixed martial artists. Ngannou acknowledged feeling the impact of Fury's shots and expressed the sentiment of being impressed, saying,
"He hits pretty good. Punchers [in MMA] are not as strong as boxers."
Despite dropping Fury in the third round, Ngannou clarified that he never believed he had Fury in serious trouble. According to Ngannou, the punch's impact was lessened by Fury's shoulder, stating,
"It wasn't a strong punch, so I knew that he's gonna get up. It was a punch that hit his shoulder first before it hit his temple."
Ngannou maintained his aggressive approach throughout the bout, explaining,
"I was there to fight and to win. He's the champion. I had to go after him. My game plan was not to count him and to survive. My game plan was to fight and to win and to dictate my own rule. I'm coming after you to win. In order to do that, I have to walk [toward him]."
Despite being under contract with the PFL, Ngannou has expressed interest in a rematch with Fury. However, a rematch seems unlikely in the near future, as Fury is currently focused on preparing for the undisputed heavyweight championship against unified champion Oleksandr Usyk on Feb. 17 in Riyadh.