An undefeated champion tumbled to the mat, baffled, in the third round against the debutant. That was not a fumble, but the sheer power of Francis Ngannou caught Tyson Fury lacking. The heavyweight champion would have thought it was a stroll in the squared circle in Riyadh. And he had never been this wrong. The former UFC champion did a number on him, and Fury was lucky to bag a split decision. The damage sustained from the October 28 fight not only raised critical questions but also seems to have jeopardized Fury’s next fight against Oleksandr Usyk.

‘The Predator’ had called it earlier. The WBO champion is shortsighted and almost paid for it by losing his undefeated record. A ruthless Fury failed to show up, and you can attribute it to any reason. Maybe his camp was short. Maybe he failed to adjust to the power Ngannou packed. Or the 35-year-old never took the fight seriously. But you can’t fight an undisputed Heavyweight champion on an 8-week camp after turning in such a horrendous display.

Tyson Fury and the unexpected onslaught from Francis Ngannou—he never saw it coming

While Ngannou was toiling hard under the tutelage of Mike Tyson, Fury was working out the details of the Oleksandr Usyk fight. Amusingly, he agreed to a December 23 date, close to his fight with Ngannou. Fury must have assumed he would escape unscathed from the bout. But Ngannou had planned it differently.

Therefore, the British champion needs some time off the ring. To recoup and recover. The Usyk fight was supposed to go down after settling the crossover fight with Ngannou. However, the fight not only handed him a reality check but also laid bare his boxing skills and vulnerabilities.

Fury and his camp must be stunned right now. If an MMA fighter could expose him badly, then you should let your imagination run wild and wonder how he would have fared against Usyk. Meanwhile, the undisputed champion is training at 100%, not buying what he saw ringside in Riyadh.

Is Tyson Fury ready for the December 23 showdown with Oleksandr Usyk?

The Ukrainian champion watched the action up close and wasn’t impressed with what he saw. Only weeks separate him from his biggest fight and paycheck. In a conversation with Fight Hub TV, he said, “I had an impression that he was playing.”

“I’m not thinking about [whether he played possum]. But I will be training 100 percent. But listen, it’s boxing. Maybe it was the element of surprise. Maybe,” Usyk added.

While the 36-year-old champion believed it was a show and continued to prepare for the December 23 fight, nothing was set in stone. In addition, he explained the knockdown due to a hard punch and the element of surprise. Despite brushing aside Tyson’s outing as an odd incident, the signs are not convincing.

You need an elaborate game plan, a long camp, and people who are willing to plug the holes in your boxing skills. Fury’s camp had none. The stakes are higher when you decide to lock horns with Usyk. However, Fury might have more time on his side to turn the narrative around than he initially anticipated.

The December conundrum

“We were going to do it on 23 December. I doubt that will happen now,” Frank Warren told the 5 Live boxing podcast. He continued, “He needs at least a bit of time to get himself, his body, back into shape. Let it heal. Then get into a camp. It will be on early next year.”

The English promoter is pushing the timeline to next year, somewhere around March. Hence, giving Fury more time to prepare for the big fight. But Usyk readily refuted Warren’s statements and pointed to the “solid contract” terms.

“We’ve got a solid contract that locks the fight on Dec 23rd. Fury can take all the breaks he wants after relinquishing his title. Tyson, we have a date on Dec 23rd. Can’t wait to see you in the ring. Mwah!” Usyk declared this to Boxing King Media.

Read More: “The Animosity in That Room Was Crazy”: Mike Tyson, Teddy Atlas, Buster Douglas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pacquiao, and Other Legends Posing Together for a Photo at Fury vs. Ngannou Sends Fans Into Meltdown

Usyk wants a piece of Fury on their agreed date, and as suggested by Warren, Fury might not be in the best shape to tackle the challenge. All Fury needs to do is heal his body, set up a long camp, and pray the fight doesn’t happen on December 23. When do you think Tyson Fury should clash with Oleksandr Usyk? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch This Story- Watch: Mike Tyson and John Fury Steal the Show as They Go Back-and-Forth at Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou Final Press Conference