Tyson Fury admits he didn't train for Francis Ngannou: 'It was play'

Tyson Fury has admitted he treated his October 2023 bout with Francis Ngannou as an exhibition rather than a serious fight, a mindset that nearly proved costly when the former UFC heavyweight knocked him down in the third round. Despite the knockdown, Fury recovered to edge Ngannou by split decision over ten rounds in the latter's professional boxing debut.

In a recent interview, Fury explained that he did not adequately prepare for the matchup because he viewed Ngannou's lack of boxing credentials as beneath his level. "No, I didn't train for him because I didn't think he was a good fighter," Fury said, clarifying: "When you do an exhibition fight, play, it wasn't really a fight... It wasn't, in my mind, a fight; it's just an exhibition, a game." Fury contrasted his casual approach with Ngannou's intensity, noting the former MMA champion treated the fight as a major career moment while the Englishman saw it as sparring.

The admission underscores how close Fury came to an upset loss against an opponent making his professional boxing debut. Had Ngannou's power been matched with serious ring experience, the outcome could have differed significantly. Fury is now rumored to be negotiating a fight with Anthony Joshua later this year, though details regarding date and location remain under discussion.