WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury feels “regretful” and “blames himself” for how his fight with Francis Ngannou went.

Fury’s reputation took a battering in 2023 as he wasted months of the year negotiating his undisputed world heavyweight fight with Oleksandr Usyk only for the bout to not get finalised.

It is widely accepted that Fury is to blame for this fight not happening last year as he wanted too much money.

Thankfully, Saudi Arabia have come to the rescue as Fury vs Usyk has now been signed for February 17.

Fury will have the Usyk bout – which is arguably the biggest and most difficult of his career – after fighting just once in 2023.

‘The Gypsy King’ kicked off the 2023 Riyadh Season with a major crossover fight with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who was making his professional boxing debut.

Expected to steamroll past his inferior opponent, Fury became a victim of the hype around him as he took Ngannou lightly in the weeks before fight night on October 28.

Ngannou shocked the world when he dropped Fury in the third round and arguably did enough to win the ten-round contest on points, but the Brit’s blushes were spared by a fortunate split decision victory.

Fury will have to make significant improvements if he is to beat Usyk in February. If he is successful, a rematch with Ngannou could take place at some point in 2024.

Top Rank President Todd duBoef has suggested Ngannou has “earned” a rematch with Fury.

“That’s an earned ability to get the rematch. He earned that,” Du Boef told Sky Sports.

“His performance dictated that, ‘Woah, he has a chance. We never thought he had a chance’ and in that situation, I think absolutely.

“I think Tyson is regretful. He blamed himself. He thought he had an off night.

“He said: ‘I took it lightly. It was all on me.’ Didn’t point fingers, which was good.

“Ngannou outperformed anybody’s expectation and as a result of that you have all the components to say, hey, I want to see this again and that creates and warrants a rematch.”