Eddie Hearn, chairman of Matchroom Sports, appreciates Francis Ngannou‘s move from the UFC to face Tyson Fury in a non-title boxing match, but doubts Ngannou’s chances of winning, likening the bout to the 2017 fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor, which Mayweather won decisively.
Eddie Hearn holds a significant amount of esteem for Francis Ngannou, although he doesn’t harbor much optimism for the fighter. This October, Ngannou is set to fight against the reigning lineal heavyweight boxing champion, Tyson Fury, in a non-title boxing match. Ngannou has pursued this fight for more than a year, even leaving UFC to follow through on this ambition, a decision Hearn initially thought was unlikely. However, Hearn now appreciates how well “The Predator” maneuvered his way through free agency to achieve his goals.
Hearn, speaking on The MMA Hour, was asked if Ngannou exceeded his expectations. He admitted, “When I spoke to him, I actually thought maybe he should take a couple of easier fights and build his credibility to that mega-fight. But he made it quite clear he just wanted to straight into the big fight.” He goes on to express his suggestion to Nate Diaz‘s manager, indicating that their fighters are not very potential and might get exposed without the element of surprise.
However, as the chairman of Matchroom Sports, Hearn has a wealth of experience promoting top boxing names, hence his skepticism towards Ngannou’s odds in this bout. He compares this situation to the 2017 crossover fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor, where Mayweather definitively outshone the UFC champion. “When you actually see the fight, you’re going to realize very quickly as we did with Floyd and Conor, they can’t win,” dwells he.
Regardless of the outcome of the match, Ngannou will have fulfilled a lifelong dream and achieved the most lucrative payday of his combat sports career by taking on Fury. Hearn, who’s faced his own challenges trying to secure a Fury encounter for his fighter Anthony Joshua, appreciates this accomplishment. “He’s done 100 percent the right thing,” Hearn commended, further pondering on the strategy involved and wishing Ngannou good luck. The fight between Ngannou and Fury is scheduled to take place on Oct. 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.