Ngannou’s Next Showdown: A Rematch or New Rivalries on the Horizon?

Ngannou Contemplates Next Move After Fury Showdown

Former UFC heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, 37, is reportedly close to finalizing his next fight, following a split decision loss to Tyson Fury in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this past Saturday. The bout, which saw Ngannou knock down the lineal heavyweight champion, has sparked speculations about Ngannou’s next opponent, with options including Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.

Ngannou’s performance against Fury has drawn praises from boxing personalities like Eddie Hearn and Carl Frampton. Saudi royal adviser Turki Alalshikh has submitted a bid for Ngannou’s next boxing match, while talks of a potential fight against Deontay Wilder or a crossover match against Anthony Joshua in Africa are also being considered. The match against Joshua is seen as “one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport.”

Marquel Martin, Ngannou’s manager, stated that the decision for the next fight is “probably 90 percent made,” hinting that Fury, Wilder, or Joshua could be involved. Expressing his preference for a mixed rules fight with Deontay, Martin said,

“I would love to see Deontay come into MMA and test his hand.”

Martin also emphasized Ngannou’s unmatched power and his potential to prove himself again against Fury. Reflecting on the Fury-Ngannou bout, Martin said,

“I think Francis did enough to win, but obviously it didn’t go our way. But next time you guys will see for sure who’s a clear victor, and that’s Francis Ngannou.”