Francis Ngannou is a free agent proper now, and whereas he has spoken ceaselessly about probably boxing Tyson Fury, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn says that if he had been concerned, he would go along with Anthony Joshua as Ngannou’s first opponent
That half is form of a “duh,” since Hearn promotes Joshua and doesn’t promote Fury, however his reasoning is the extra fascinating half, maybe, and may very well be used to go well with the argument for combating Fury straight off simply as simply.
Talking with The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Hearn mentioned that he has had a “pleasant dialog” with the previous UFC heavyweight champion, who left the corporate on prime of his recreation and is now at the very least exploring potential boxing paths.
Hearn advised Helwani that he believes Ngannou shouldn’t attempt to “tune up” first, however go straight into an enormous cash combat, believing probably the most cash is promoting the occasion on the “unknown” of the UFC heavyweight champion vs a prime boxing star.
On talking with Ngannou a few boxing run
“We didn’t go too deeply into stuff, however I respect him tremendously for the way in which he’s dealt with his profession to a degree the place now he’s in a incredible place. He has a brand new ocean to navigate now, which is much more rocky than the world of MMA and UFC in that he’s within the Wild West of boxing. I really feel like he most likely needs to construct a staff of individuals round him that may be certain that they’ll efficiently navigate that ocean and maximize his potential.
“We’ll see what occurs. For me, we’d like to be concerned along with his profession. The Anthony Joshua combat might be among the many greatest fights that may be made in any sport. Clearly the Tyson Fury combat is there for him as nicely.
“I used to be fairly captivated by him. I’m not a large MMA fan, however I nonetheless respect what he’s achieved there. However I simply discovered him to be an excellent gentleman. We’ll see the way it goes.”
“In the end, he’s going to have numerous alternatives offered to him. It’s actually all the way down to himself about which alternatives he needs to take and who he trusts to maneuver ahead. As I defined to him, in boxing, you possibly can waste your time. You’ll be able to undergo months of negotiations with the improper folks. Subsequent factor, a deal’s carried out, a contract’s breached, an escrow’s fallen via, and also you’ve wasted six months of the yr.
“He has a golden alternative now to essentially solidify himself financially, and lots of generations past him, via being concerned in an occasion that will be one of many greatest in combat sports activities historical past.”
On what he’d have Ngannou do first in boxing
“I imply, I feel he ought to combat Anthony Joshua. I don’t see — that is one other dialog I had with Nate Diaz’s guys. These guys have a mountain to climb by way of the problem of combating an elite boxer, however to undergo the method of getting two or three fights — one combat you would possibly look dangerous since you’re studying, so the worth actually is the unknown.
“What occurs when two titans from the world of combat sports activities collide? The UFC heavyweight world champion Francis Ngannou and the two-time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua. The entire unknown. The unknown of how good is Francis Ngannou? We all know he punches extraordinarily exhausting, if he lands one on Anthony Joshua, is it the best upset of all time? Or will AJ utterly steamroll him and also you’ll see Francis Ngannou get knocked out? That’s the attraction of that combat, the unknown.
“So for me, if I’m representing Francis Ngannou, I wish to make it possible for this subsequent transfer, I maximize each greenback that’s on the market. He’s carried out the exhausting work, he’s carried out the years of hustle. He’s carried out the work to get himself able that he can transfer ahead with what he needs to do, take management of his profession. And now the liberty that he has to try this have to be extremely motivating and gratifying for him.”
“You want folks round you in boxing that know what they’re doing and you may belief, and that’s a really tough factor. I wish to see him go straight into an enormous combat the place he could make an absolute fortune, after which if he was to lose, to return again and really have some fights in boxing.”
