
via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Francis Ngannou of Cameroon stands in the Octagon before facing Derrick Lewis in their heavyweight fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 07: Francis Ngannou of Cameroon stands in the Octagon before facing Derrick Lewis in their heavyweight fight during the UFC 226 event inside T-Mobile Arena on July 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
In the swirling world of sports, a single punch can ignite a storm. Tyson Fury faced Francis Ngannou in an encounter few predicted. Known for his boxing finesse, Fury was expected to school the MMA crossover. Yet, Fury found himself tasting canvas. Stephen A Smith, a voice that resonates loud in sports commentary, had something to say. And oh, did he have a lot on his mind. Smith’s Twitter video post was not just about the fight; it was about history, potential, and the heartbeat of boxing.
Evoking echoes of Muhammad Ali’s era, he hinted at a future many hadn’t seen coming. But it’s not just about what Smith said; it’s about the intriguing twists he introduced. The ring isn’t just canvas and ropes; it’s a stage for unpredictability. Boxing isn’t dead, it’s just waiting for its next star. Is Ngannou the spark to reignite the flame?
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Stephen A Smith weighs in: Ngannou’s impact and boxing’s shifting tides
Stephen A Smith pulled no punches in his assessment of the bout between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou. Expressing his shock, Smith exclaimed, “Tyson Fury got dropped… I expected Tyson Fury to give him a boxing exhibition.” He further emphasized Ngannou’s surprisingly impressive showing: “He didn’t look that bad. He didn’t look that bad at all.”
Smith pointedly highlighted the gravity of Ngannou’s achievement, noting, “He still dropped the lineal heavyweight champion of the world, which is Tyson Fury, who came into the fight 33-0-1.” Addressing the unpredictable nature of the sport, he mused, “One punch can end you. One punch can take you out.”
Shifting gears to the larger picture of the sport, Smith lamented, “This isn’t the days of Muhammad Ali. This isn’t that time where the heavyweight division was considered elite.” However, he concluded with a compelling thought, suggesting Ngannou’s potential future in boxing: “Francis Ngannou should stay in boxing because he could make some noise in the heavyweight division.”
The Verdict from the Stands: Fans Chime in on Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou
While Stephen A Smith made his perspective clear, the boxing community, as always, had its own set of opinions to share. Twitter quickly became a battleground of viewpoints, with fans dissecting every aspect of the bout.
Firstly, one user resonated with a sentiment that while Ngannou wasn’t necessarily robbed of a victory, his mere act of dropping Fury felt like a win in its own right.
He wasn't robbed but he dropped Fury and that was considered a win for him if that makes any sense
— 4600SportsNutz (@4600sportsnutz) October 30, 2023
On the other hand, another user observed that Ngannou seemed to inflict more visible damage throughout the fight.
Definitely did more damage
— 🥨 PhillyAl 🏛 (@PhillyAlB) October 30, 2023
But it wasn’t just praise for Ngannou. Another fan voiced concerns about the credibility of boxing as a sport, labeling it as possibly one of the most “rigged and fixed sports ever.” He nostalgically pointed out that the sport hasn’t been as thrilling since the era of Mike Tyson.
Of course he was…….boxing has been and will always be one of the most rigged and fixed sports ever. Hasn't been interesting since Tyson so that says a lot about it.
— Kenneth (@ket1967) October 30, 2023
Another person acknowledged Fury’s win but saw potential in Ngannou, suggesting that with continued training, Ngannou could indeed clinch the Heavyweight belt in a few years.
Tyson clearly won but Francis is a legitt boxer.
If he keep training he can in two or three years win the HW Belt.
— Central do Bagre (@Central_Bagres) October 30, 2023
Yet, not everyone shared this positive view. Another keen observer outrightly called Tyson Fury an “embarrassment to boxing,” hinting at the polarized feelings the bout had evoked among fans.
Tyson Fury is an embarrassment to boxing
— Knapp (@slurringFish) October 30, 2023
From Stephen A Smith’s remarks recalling the golden era of Muhammad Ali to the cacophony of fans sharing their raw, unfiltered views, it’s evident that this match will linger in memories for a while. While Fury might have taken the title, Ngannou seems to have won many hearts and sparked fervent debates.
Could Francis Ngannou be the refreshing gust that the Heavyweight boxing division has been yearning for? What are your thoughts on this exhilarating bout and the future of Heavyweight boxing?
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