Francis Ngannou’s highly anticipated boxing debut against Tyson Fury was nothing short of spectacular. While he ultimately lost by a controversial split decision, the former UFC heavyweight champion exceeded expectations by knocking Fury down in the third round and pushing the undefeated WBC champion to his limits.
However, in a recent interview, Ngannou revealed a surprising detail about his approach to the fight-he deliberately held back his power, fearing he would run out of energy in the later rounds.
Given Ngannou’s reputation as one of the hardest-hitting fighters in combat sports, many expected him to rely on his knockout ability. But stepping into a 12-round boxing match for the first time forced him to adopt a more strategic and cautious approach.
Ngannou’s journey in mixed martial arts has been defined by his explosive power and ability to end fights in seconds. His knockouts against Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Stipe Miocic are proof of his raw strength.
But facing an elite heavyweight boxer like Fury presented a new challenge, and Ngannou knew he couldn’t afford to throw everything into the early rounds.
In an interview on The Ring podcast, he explained the thought process behind his strategy.
“I was just struggling, thinking round after round like, ‘How am I feeling? Am I good?'” Ngannou said. “One thing that I kept telling myself is like, ‘Don’t rush. Don’t go too much. You might get tired.’ That was my biggest concern.”
The 37-year-old admitted that he intentionally avoided throwing full-power punches because he feared he wouldn’t be able to sustain his performance over the course of the fight.
“I didn’t want to get tired before him. So, even the punches like [I told myself], ‘Don’t put power. Try to get speed and get as many punches as possible, but don’t try to knock him out,'” Ngannou added. “Again, you’re fighting a guy who has seven lives, like a cat.”
Despite his caution, Ngannou still managed to send Fury to the canvas-a moment that stunned the boxing world.
However, he chose to remain composed rather than going for an all-out finish, believing that Fury had the ability to recover, much like he did in his legendary fights against Deontay Wilder.
“We have all seen Tyson Fury reincarnated from death. That’s why, like, people say, ‘Oh, why [didn’t] you knock him out?’ [I’m] like, ‘No, I know this guy can die and resuscitate [himself] again,'” Ngannou joked.
Ngannou’s Next Move: Boxing or MMA?
While Ngannou is still under contract with PFL (Professional Fighters League) in MMA, he has made it clear that his next fight will be in boxing.
With limited high-profile opponents available in PFL’s heavyweight division, the former UFC champion is looking for a big-money boxing match, and Deontay Wilder is emerging as a likely candidate.
“I will do boxing next. I want to. I’m not done with boxing. It’s not that MMA is easy, it’s the sport that I understand better and I have more experience in, but I say go for boxing,” Ngannou told Sportsbook Review.
He is particularly interested in testing himself against Wilder, who, like Ngannou, is known for his devastating knockout power.
“Maybe not in his past two fights, but Deontay Wilder is known as a guy that knocks everybody out or tries to knock you out. I’m going against that guy, and I myself can knock someone out,” he said.
With Ngannou eager to continue his boxing journey, fans are left wondering-will he get a shot at Wilder, Anthony Joshua, or even a rematch with Fury? Or will he return to MMA and dominate the PFL heavyweight division?
One thing is certain: Ngannou’s fighting career is far from over, and he is determined to prove himself as a force in both sports.
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