‘Lost his mystique’: Iconic image says it all as ‘washed’ Fury’s legacy takes major hit

He may be ‘The Gypsy King’, but Tyson Fury’s position on the throne has never looked more vulnerable.

Fury, the WBC heavyweight champion and a man some may consider as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet, went the distance and edged out a split decision victory over Francis Ngannou in the latter’s professional boxing debut.

BOXING: Nikita Tszyu v Dylan Biggs WED 22nd NOV 7PM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports

But never has a victory seemed so hollow.

Fury was knocked down to the canvas by a perfectly executed counter-left hook from Ngannou in a scene no-one saw coming.

It provided an image that will live in sports folklore forever: a former UFC heavyweight champion standing over Fury having knocked him down in his first boxing bout.

And with that punch, Fury “lost his mystique”.

“What he said at the end there for Usyk, ‘Clear the ring out, we’re going to go right now,’ no-one’s buying it anymore,” DAZN pundit Todd Grisham said.

“No-one’s going to look at him now and think he’s the pound-for-pound king.

“Tyson Fury, dare I say it, looked a little bit washed and I don’t know why.”

Barry Jones, a former WBO super featherweight champion, also not hold back in his scathing analysis of Fury’s performance as he polished off a slice of humble pie.

“That tonight was awful, from start to finish,” Jones said.

“He (Fury) looked tentative, afraid at times and looked like a guy who ran out of ideas.

“I never thought I would say that about Tyson Fury, that he ran out of ideas against a novice, but that’s a fact.”

The collective combat sports world also weighed in on Fury’s performance, with many sympathetic for Ngannou.

English boxing star Chris Eubank Jr wrote: “Watching from ringside I thought Ngannou won the fight. It was close but he was the aggressor, landed heavier shots & scored a knockdown. Fury deserved to lose after having so much trouble against a man who has never boxed before … too much time filming Netflix specials not enough time in the gym I’m guessing. Unlucky Francis.”

Renowned combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani said Fury “looks shellshocked” after the win while ESPN’s Mike Coppinger said the champ “did not look good.”

Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Lou DiBella was also left flabbergasted at what had transpired.

“You couldn’t have tried harder to make Ngannou look great if you’re Fury,” DiBella said.

“I can’t believe what I watched. I’m amazed that on this night Francis BOXED with Tyson Fury and damn well could have had his hand raised.”

A penny for the thoughts of Fury’s promoter Frank Warren and Top Rank founder Bob Arum, too, having seen ‘The Gypsy King’ almost lose what seemed like the unlosable.

“I talked to them before the fight and when I said what chance did they give Ngannou, they both laughed,” Grisham said.

“No-one took it seriously. Right now, no matter what brave face they put on, they’re embarrassed.

“If they lost, they’d have been humiliated.”

Given Fury had also targeted a December date to take on Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight crown, those plans could also be up in smoke, partly because of a cut Fury sustained on his forehead.

But, more significantly, because of how poor ‘The Gypsy King’ looked against Ngannou in the latter’s debut inside the ring.

Time will tell as to what Fury’s next move is yet now, with his mystique gone, there may not be as much intrigue as there would have been.