Promoter Eddie Hearn believes that Oleksandr Usyk versus Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship is a ‘mismatch’ following the Brit’s performance against MMA star Francis Ngannou.
Francis Ngannou dropped Tyson Fury in round three of his professional boxing debut, appearing to hurt the WBC champion on one or two more occasions before ultimately losing a split decision after ten rounds. Many in the sport feel that he deserved the win.
Regardless, it wasn’t a great look for Fury, who was tipped to win handily. He had previously promised to knock the challenger out quickly.
A ‘baffled’ Eddie Hearn – who once held tentative talks with Ngannou to face his charge Anthony Joshua – told Boxing Social that ‘The Gypsy King’ should have lost the fight.
“I’m baffled really. I can’t believe it. Firstly I feel Ngannou was robbed. He scored the knockdown and nobody actually did anything in the fight, the fight was a stinker, but Ngannou won the fight.
You’re talking about a guy who has never boxed before and respect to him because he was better than I thought but Fury looked like he had never put on a pair of boxing gloves before. I don’t know whether he’s shot, he didn’t train, he’s thinking about the Usyk fight, he was absolutely awful.”
The promoter had backed Fury to end the crossover contest whenever he wanted before the fact, but now says that his performance was so poor it takes any intrigue from an already-signed undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk. He would instead like Joshua and Fury to face off.
“Let AJ go in there an end his career please or Ngannou has earned the right for a big fight, let AJ go in and knock Ngannou out inside three rounds not a problem. Forget about Fury-Usyk, dead fight, nobody is interested in that fight at all. Ngannou won thee fight by two rounds.
I don’t know if his punch resistance is still there, if the Wilder fight took something out of him. I’ve told you before AJ beats Tyson Fury every day of the week, he will knock him out inside six rounds. Scrap everything and just make Fury against AJ now and I’m telling you AJ will beat him comfortably and stop him and finish his career. Usyk-Fury is a mismatch and nobody wants to see it.”
Usyk entered the ring post-fight and his four-belt bout with Fury is still expected to be next, although the date of December 23 looks unlikely given Fury picked up a small cut and more damage than was expected.
Francis Ngannou has made it clear who he wants to face next after an impressive display against Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia.
Francis Ngannou was making his boxing debut having been a heavyweight champion in the UFC, with not many fans giving the MMA star much hope going into the contest. But the 37 year-old shocked the world with his performance and even knocked the current WBC champion down in the third round.
Tyson Fury went on to win the fight by split decision, something which some pundits disagreed with, Eddie Hearn going as far to say the result was a ‘robbery’.
Hearn’s fighter, Anthony Joshua, was previously dismissive of a potential matchup against Ngannou, but after his showing in Riyadh the Matchroom promoter has made it clear they would have ‘no problem’ making that clash for as early as December.
“We’re looking at that date [December 23] for Joshua anyway. Maybe I’ll reach out to them and say listen, if you’re looking for an opponent for Francis Ngannou, AJ’s ready, December 23, no problem at all. I’d like more time promotionally to make that fight what it is, one of the biggest fights out there, but no problem.”
However, Ngannou is now a heavyweight with options and, in an interview with TMZSports, ruled out the Joshua fight happening next, saying he is fully focused on a rematch against ‘The Gypsy King’.
“First of all it’s too soon. Secondly, my most focus as far as boxing is concerned is my rematch with Tyson Fury. That’s the most important thing for me right now, everything else in boxing comes after.”
Francis Ngannou went on to say he is willing to wait for Fury to fight Oleksandr Usyk before getting another shot at him.
“I would be willing to wait, they are going to fight sometime in February instead of December 23, which is my fault, I shouldn’t have cut him, then they would fight in December and then maybe we would have run it back earlier next year.”
The 37-year-old might have to wait longer than he thinks as it’s reported that the undisputed fight has a two way rematch clause contracted.
