Anthony Joshua shows off his belts (Getty)
Anthony Joshua Expresses Disappointment Over Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou Fight
Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has voiced his disapproval of rival Tyson Fury’s decision to face former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a crossover boxing match. The news of the fight, set to take place on October 28th in Saudi Arabia, left Joshua shaking his head in disappointment.
Despite several discussions between Fury and Joshua about a potential showdown, the much-anticipated bout never materialized due to various reasons. Recently, the “Gypsy King” reached out to Joshua for a fall fight, but Joshua opted to proceed with his scheduled plans, which involve a rematch against Dillian Whyte on August 12th.
Fury also attempted to secure an undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk, the WBO, IBF, IBO, and WBA champion. However, the financial terms for the rematch could not be agreed upon, leading to the cancellation of that potential matchup. As a result, Usyk is now set to defend his titles against WBA “regular” champion Daniel Dubois next month in Poland.
After exhausting most of his lucrative options, Fury ultimately decided to finalize a crossover boxing match with Francis Ngannou, who will be making his professional boxing debut. The fight will adhere to traditional boxing rules, but Fury’s WBC title will not be on the line.
Expressing his disappointment, Joshua commented, “[I have] three thoughts. ‘One – I shouldn’t give a f—, it’s none of my business. It has no business concerning me. It pays me no business. Number two – Why? He should’ve been fighting for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. Straight up. That’s nonsense. His fault.'”
Joshua further emphasized, “Three – If we’re acknowledging his business, good luck to the man. Do your thing. If it’s right for him, what’s it got to do with me? That’s my three views on it.”
In a recent interview with talkSPORT, Tony Bellew, the former professional boxer, made bold predictions for the upcoming clash between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou, confidently stating that Fury has the ability to end the fight within a single round. However, Bellew also acknowledged that if the bout were to occur under MMA rules, Ngannou’s experience in the sport would likely lead to his early success.
The highly anticipated showdown between the heavyweight contenders is scheduled to take place at the end of October. However, the fight has faced criticism due to the perceived gap in skill when it comes to boxing. Many fans had hoped to see Fury test himself against Oleksandr Usyk, but with that matchup unlikely to materialize in the near future, Fury finds himself pitted against the former UFC heavyweight champion.
Bellew, known for his outspoken nature, shared his thoughts on the upcoming bout. Speaking to talkSPORT, he expressed his belief in Fury’s dominance, stating, “I genuinely believe Tyson Fury, if he chooses to, could get rid of Francis Ngannou in a round.” Bellew emphasized the stark differences between MMA and boxing, comparing it to the distinction between rugby and football. He added, “It would be just as stupid if Tyson Fury was to get in the cage with Francis Ngannou because Francis Ngannou would absolutely obliterate Tyson Fury within 40-50 seconds.”
Bellew’s predictions have added fuel to the anticipation surrounding the Fury vs. Ngannou clash. While the matchup may not satisfy those seeking a pure boxing showdown, it offers an intriguing crossover between the two combat sports. As fight night approaches, fans eagerly await the outcome of this unique encounter and whether Bellew’s confident predictions will come to fruition.
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