Francis Ngannou versus Anthony Joshua: Matchroom’s dream

Matchroom Sports’ Eddie Hearn wants new boxer Francis Ngannou to have a go with his British client Anthony Joshua, following Ngannou’s stunning knockdown of the WBC heavyweight champion last Saturday and the stress of setting up Joshua versus Deontay Wilder.

‘Now Francis Ngannou has beaten Tyson Fury,’ Hearn opined. ‘I’m up for it. I’ve not spoken to AJ – he may say ‘I want to fight Wilder, I want to do this’ but … I might have [spoken to Saudi already.] I’ve spoke to a few people.’

Britain’s Tyson Fury’s controversial defeat of Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou by split decision last Saturday is still a subject of discussion both on the internet and in boxing circles, as many think the African put up a better performance than the much-respected WBC king. Hearn keeps being vocal about his take on the judges decision.

Next in line to contend with the WBC champion is Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, but Hearn said the match he would like better was Anthony Joshua versus Francis Ngannou.

‘I think Fury-Usyk is a damp squib, but if it’s contracted – and undisputed fights are always great – again, I have to speak to the boss, but I like AJ-Ngannou. For me, light work,’ Hearn continued.

‘You have to respect it. He just beat Tyson Fury … He should’ve been given the decision.’

But Tyson Fury’s eyes are set on a different fighter, as far as official statements are concerned. According to the exchange between Fury and Usyk at the match’s end, it was clear that Fury and the southpaw would get into the ring next before Fury faced any other fighter. But the WBC champion first spoke his mind about the just-concluded bout between him and Ngannou.

‘You can’t take anything away from Francis Ngannou. He’s a good fighter, he gave me a very good fight and that was it. I trained very well, I prepared very good and I don’t have any excuses.

‘It’s boxing – some days you have good days, some days you don’t. You crack on and continue. Keep moving forward … I’ve I didn’t train as hard as I did I probably wouldn’t have got through that fight.’

Then Fury said why he thought he lost.

‘I felt my timing was quite off. I’ve been out the ring nearly a year again. A little bit of ring rust. It was what it was. It was far from vintage Tyson Fury.’

He said the wounds he got were not too bad.

‘Just some surface bruising really. There was a bit of a head clash in there and obviously a couple of punches as well. Nothing major. No serious injuries.’

Usyk is the next man, according to Fury.

‘I’m just going to leave it to the guys who’s promoting it and putting the event on. I’m going to go back now, take a rest and get back in the gym.

‘Get yourself prepared [Usyk] and we’ll put the biggest fight of our generation on.’

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