Francis Ngannou almost caused a major upset in the history of competitive sports when he faced Tyson Fury in October. In his professional boxing debut, Ngannou went up against the consensus best heavyweight on the planet and provided the WBC champion with what he described as “his toughest fight in 10 years.” In a mega-fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk originally scheduled for December 23rd, the anticipation over the undisputed heavyweight title clash was heightened when the fight was announced during the build-up to Fury vs. Ngannou.
After Tyson Fury narrowly defeated Francis Ngannou via decision, the undisputed heavyweight title clash with Usyk was moved to February. In the meantime, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder reportedly agreed to a two-fight deal to clash in 2024. However, Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has pumped the brakes on speculation that the deal is finalized. Joshua and Wilder are set to face off against Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker, respectively, at the Day of Reckoning card held in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
During a recent interview with Seconds Out, Hearn weighed in on the potential obstacles to the Joshua vs. Wilder fight, stating that contracts must be signed and executed, both fighters must win without injury or damage, and that success in the heavyweight landscape is difficult. Hearn also cites the case of Fury’s postponed match against Usyk after nearly being defeated.
Francis Ngannou’s impressive performance against Tyson Fury earned him a spot on the WBC’s top 10 heavyweight boxing rankings. This sparked discussions about whether Ngannou could win a boxing world title, but Eddie Hearn has dismissed the idea. Hearn argues that the inexperience of Francis Ngannou, who few expected to pose a challenge to Fury, let alone drop him with a left hook, would ultimately be his downfall in the boxing world.
In another interview with Seconds Out, Hearn states, “Francis Ngannou can get beaten by anybody in the top 100… when you say, ‘Is he going to be a force in the heavyweight division?’ – He’s only really thinking about the Fury rematch, or [fighting] Joshua or Wilder. Because he could lose to anybody. And he’s not gonna risk it for $5 million or $10 million.”
