In early November, Eddie Hearn shared with BBC Sport his exploration of a potential showdown between Anthony Joshua and former UFC champion Francis Ngannou outlining the strategic plan for the next “six to 12 months” of Joshua’s illustrious career.
Much like Joshua, Ngannou commands a significant presence in Africa, particularly in Cameroon, where he first ventured into combat sports before pursuing his MMA aspirations in Europe. Ngannou’s near-upset against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October, marked by a controversial split decision loss in Saudi Arabia, catapulted him into the WBC top 10 rankings and heightened his prospects for clashes with established figures like Joshua.
Hearn, reflecting on the possibility of a match in Africa, acknowledged the financial considerations but expressed openness, having exchanged messages with Ngannou’s camp. He envisioned the clash between the two behemoths, Joshua and Ngannou, as a colossal event, describing them as fighters “carved out of stone.”
Post his departure from the UFC at the beginning of 2023, Ngannou aligned himself with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), an MMA promotion with ambitions of expansion into Africa. Ngannou, now a minority equity owner and chairman of PFL Africa, is instrumental in the launch of this new venture set for 2025, emphasising his commitment to the sport’s growth on the continent.
While ‘The Predator’ currently lacks a scheduled bout, his immediate focus remains on boxing, alongside his role as a PFL fighter. Meanwhile, Joshua’s upcoming contest is a non-title bout against Otto Wallin on December 23 in Saudi Arabia, headlining an event titled ‘Day of Reckoning’ alongside Deontay Wilder, the former WBC champion long linked to a highly anticipated face-off with Joshua.
Wilder expressed his enthusiasm last year and strongly desired to face Joshua in Africa. The forthcoming event, part of the annual Riyadh Season, signifies Joshua’s third fight in Saudi Arabia since 2019, underscoring the global appeal and significance of his matches on the international stage.
