WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has claimed a controversial split decision victory over former UFC fighter Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia.
One judge scored it 95-94 in favour of Ngannou while two judges scored 96-93 and 95-94 in favor of Fury.
It was a tight and entertaining contest as Ngannou dropped Fury in round three after connecting with a left hook.
Fury's WBC heavyweight belt was not on the line.
Fury got a first taste of Ngannou's power in round two, though, as a cut opened on the forehead of the Gypsy King when he ate a left hook and got the same punch in the third round which floored him.
It seemed the scorecards were against Fury and he appeared desperate when lunging forward in the seventh, missing Ngannou and falling to his knees - deemed a slip rather than a knockdown.
Ngannou boxed very smartly when he was able to close the distance, using his MMA skills to clinch and land shots to the body and head.
Fury's face carried the damage as the final bell rang and Ngannou's corner held his arms up high in the expectation that he was on the verge of pulling off the biggest shock in boxing.
But the scorecards controversially fell in the favour of the Gypsy King.
Source: BBC Sports **
