Carl Froch has looked back on 2023 and named the most shocking moment in the sport of boxing.
As usual, there were upsets, comebacks and big knockouts. Long awaited fights were made whilst some continued to go begging.
On Froch on Fighting, ‘The Cobra’ said the biggest shock of the year was Tyson Fury getting dropped by Francis Ngannou in the third round of their crossover contest.
“I think Tyson Fury getting dropped by Ngannou in a fight that many thought he lost. I’ve rewatched it since and scored it, and I think [only by] one round I can say Tyson Fury won that fight. And I’m saying that for the sake of boxing probably. I think that one maybe wins it.”
“The biggest moment in 2023 for me was Tyson Fury getting flattened by Francis Ngannou – a mixed marital arts fighter making his professional debut. [Fury] getting flattened and almost schooled by a guy making his debut. That was a shocker.”
Ngannou wasn’t given a chance by most in the sport given that it was his first boxing fight, albeit following an impressive career in kickboxing and MMA.
He flipped the script in Saudi, knocking Fury down with a counter in the third and holding his own throughout the fight. It would a split decision loss for the underdog, one that he branded a robbery in the aftermath.
Fury’s stock has dropped somewhat since the showing, with many altering their predictions for his upcoming undisputed fight against Oleksandr Usyk.