Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, who made a spectacular boxing debut against Tyson Fury, is being considered as a potential opponent for Anthony Joshua by Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn.
Francis Ngannou might be gearing up for another colossal heavyweight clash. This comes after his stunning boxing debut in October against Tyson Fury. The match went for 10 rounds, with Ngannou losing by a hair’s breadth in a split decision. He even managed to knock down the heavyweight king in the third round.
Despite the defeat, Ngannou’s reputation soared. Eddie Hearn, the boss of Matchroom Boxing, has his eyes on Ngannou. He’s considering him as a potential rival for his star client, Anthony Joshua.
Hearn spilled the beans to iFL TV. “We’re currently discussing three fights,” he said. “They’re all big, and none of them involve Deontay Wilder for March.” Hearn’s goal is to fight the victor of Fury-Usyk. He’s also considering the Hrgovic fight for the world heavyweight title. And of course, there’s the tantalizing prospect of a Ngannou fight. Other heavyweights are also in the mix, including a potential Zhang fight with Queensbury.
Parker? Yeah, maybe. It’s tricky, though. Joshua has already fought and defeated Parker. But Parker’s recent victory over Deontay Wilder has earned him a shot at a big fight. So, Hearn isn’t ruling that out.
The heavyweight boxing scene got a shakeup at the Day of Reckoning event on Dec. 23 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Joshua triumphed over Otto Wallin in the main event. Joseph Parker won a one-sided decision against a lackluster Wilder. Filip Hrgovic and Frank Sanchez also claimed victories against their outmatched opponents.
Wilder’s defeat to Parker upset the plans for a Joshua-Wilder showdown. But Hearn is okay with postponing that match. “The fight’s dead for now,” he admitted. But he added, “You never know what’s going to happen in the future.”
Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are set to face off in February for the undisputed heavyweight champion title. If Fury wins, he might rematch with Ngannou. But Hearn thinks Joshua deserves a shot at the winner.
“We do have a plan,” Hearn insisted. He mentioned other great heavyweights like Andy Ruiz, Frank Sanchez, and Joseph Parker. But Joshua’s only interest is in big fights and winning the world heavyweight title. He wants to fight Tyson Fury or have another go at Usyk. “That’s what Ben [Davison, Joshua’s trainer] wants,” Hearn added.
Hearn would love a Fury fight. But he’s also looking at the long game. “You’re talking four or five fights down the line,” he said. That could mean another year and a half, maybe two years. So, how much longer is Joshua going to fight? For now, they’re excited for 2024.