A close friend of Tyson Fury has claimed his heavyweight reign almost came crashing down against Francis Ngannou due to "yes men" infiltrating his team.

Former world champion Billy Joe Saunders took to social media to share his fears after the Gypsy King scraped a split decision win over a 37-year-old MMA fighter with no boxing background. Ngannou appeared on the verge of ending the fight in the third round when he toppled Fury with a clubbing left to the temple. Fury's mooted mega-fight with fellow heavyweight standout Oleksandr Usyk for December 23 now appears in the balance despite both posing after the Englishman's win in Saudi Arabia.

The lineal heavyweight kingpin was a pale imitation of the fighter who defeated Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder as Ngannou's counter-punching style made a fool of one of the sport's most awkward customers. And now Saunders has gone public over his worries but still believes his mate will be too much for Usyk. He said: "Too many yes men in camp, not switched on from [the] word go. But he [will] be switched on for the Ukrainian."

Meanwhile, viewers in America were shown an incident in the sixth round which showed Fury landing an elbow on a boxing alumni. Viewers across the globe speculated why the underdog was bleeding from the mouth in later rounds but a replay on ESPN+ showed Fury landing a suspect blow on his opponent.

Ngannou himself leaned on some old tricks as he tried a superman punch as he leapt from his feet to try and knock the champion out in the closing stages.