Fury Takes Ngannou Fight Lightly
Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has expressed regret over his fight with former UFC star Francis Ngannou and admits that he "took it lightly." The crossover clash took place in Saudi Arabia in October, with Ngannou knocking down Fury. Although Fury escaped with a controversial split-decision win, the fight caused a delay in his title unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk.
Rematch on the Cards
Despite his regret, Fury's promoter, Todd DuBoef of Top Rank, has revealed that a rematch with Ngannou is still a possibility. DuBoef stated that Ngannou earned the opportunity for a rematch with his performance, which exceeded expectations. Fury himself blamed his loss on his own performance, admitting that he had an off night and took the fight lightly.
Fury vs. Usyk: Unification Bout
Meanwhile, Fury's focus is on his upcoming bout with Oleksandr Usyk. The two fighters will contest for all four world titles in the heavyweight division, marking the first time in history that this has occurred. The fight is scheduled for February 17.
Rematch Clauses Becoming the Norm
The Fury vs. Usyk deal is rumored to include a rematch clause, suggesting that the rivalry between the two fighters could extend over two bouts. While promoter DuBoef admitted that he is not a big fan of rematch clauses, he acknowledged that they have become more common in the past decade and a half. He believes that the inclusion of rematch clauses takes away from the essence of a prizefight, but recognizes that it has become the norm in today's boxing landscape.
