Renowned boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has indicated that an exhibition boxing match between Tyson Fury and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou might be next in line, despite his preference for a fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Legendary boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that an exhibition boxing match with former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, might be the next challenge awaiting Tyson Fury. This speculation came about in a recent interview with Boxing Social, where Hearn was probed about rumors of a potential duel between Fury and Ngannou, who is now making headlines due to his recent contract with PFL. “Yes, I believe [that is going to happen],” Hearn affirmed. He further suggested that the likely event would likely have the stipulation of “no knockdowns or anything.” Although he is not concrete on the matter, Hearn seemed to lean toward believing the exhibition as imminent, expressing disappointment that it was not the fight many fans had hoped for.
The cause of Hearn’s dissatisfaction lies in a clash between Fury and his fighter Oleksandr Usyk not materializing. Despite a flurry of exchanged words on social media, the desired fight to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion has not yet been agreed upon. Contrarily, Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, has been inactive since his victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022. After successfully defending his UFC heavyweight title, he underwent surgery for a significant knee injury. Ngannou parted ways with the UFC in May to sign with PFL, and it’s expected that he will participate in a boxing bout prior to his promotional debut in 2024.
When probed on whether or not a showdown between Fury and Ngannou would be beneficial for the sport of boxing, Hearn leaned into tradition, expressing the desire to give boxing enthusiasts the fights they yearn for. “I’m sure it would be a big event, but I want to see him fight Usyk,” Hearn stated. He further expressed his yearning for the long-sought-after undisputed championship to come to fruition. Hearn conceded, “But Tyson is in charge of his own career, and I’m sure he’s got a mat load of money, and good luck to him.”