Tyson Fury vs Olesandr Usyk: Winner’s opponent confirmed by Eddie Hearn | Boxing | Sport

Tyson Fury vs Olesandr Usyk: Winner's opponent confirmed by Eddie Hearn | Boxing | Sport


Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn has revealed the winner of Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight bout against Francis Ngannou will face the victor of the undisputed heavyweight championship showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua and Ngannou are set to square off on March 8, while Fury and Usyk will enjoy their highly-anticipated clash in May.

Defeat for Joshua would ultimately derail his career, and undo the recent wins that have elevated the Brit back into the world title conversation. Joshua is reportedly in line to receive an IBF world title shot against Filip Hrgovic should the belt be vacated by the winner of the four-belt shootout in favor of a rematch as expected. 

However, Joshua may not even need to go down such a route. According to Hearn, Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Entertainment, is looking to schedule a meeting between the winner of Joshua-Ngannou against whoever emerges victorious from Fury and Usyk’s undisputed meeting.

“His Excellency said the winner of this fight faces the winner of Fury-Usyk,” Hearn told the MMA Hour on Monday night. “That is a dream chance for us because we chased that for so long.

“AJ is going to beat Francis Ngannou, and then he’s going to beat the winner of Fury-Usyk, and he’s going to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion.”

If Ngannou sensationally wins, he would follow in Ukrainian star Vasiliy Lomachenko’s footsteps in securing a world title fight in only his second professional outing. However, Ngannou is not a decorated amateur boxer; he is a former UFC heavyweight champion with no boxing experience who has somehow emerged as a contender.

Ngannou was one of the most prominent figures in combat sports across 2023, despite only fighting once. He walked away from the UFC as the reigning heavyweight champion and nearly secured an incredible win over WBC champion Fury in his professional boxing debut.

Back in October, Ngannou stunned the world as he came agonisingly close to a dramatic upset win over Fury. The former UFC heavyweight champion fought Fury in the crossover event and impressed immensely; despite being knocked down in the third round, Fury – considered by many to be the premier heavyweight in the sport – took the result on points.

Fury was scheduled to meet Usyk in a blockbuster clash in February to determine the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world but, just weeks before the anticipated fight, the bout was suspended after it emerged the Gypsy King had sustained a deep gash to his eye. Fury is now scheduled to clash with Oleksandr Usyk to become undisputed heavyweight champion in May.

Ngannou will face Joshua on Friday 8th March – and, should he win, the Cameroonian hopes to secure a rematch with Fury in the near future. Perhaps it comes as with the undisputed heavyweight titles on the line. 



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