The winner of the upcoming undisputed heavyweight championship fight on February 17 between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will defend the title against the winner of the Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou match on March 8.
Reportedly, the winner of Joshua vs. Ngannou hopes to compete against the victor of the Fury vs. Usyk clash in Saudi Arabia.
There’s an expectation that the fight in Saudi Arabia will draw significant interest, particularly if Ngannou beats AJ, given Joshua’s vulnerability to heavy hitters due to his weak lower jaw.
In a less favorable scenario, Joshua could face Usyk in a trilogy fight, but this wouldn’t be satisfying for fans or AJ’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, considering Usyk’s previous victories over Joshua.
The upcoming battles are scheduled as follows:
- Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk: February 17th
- Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou: March 8th
Casual fans who aren’t avid boxing followers would likely be intrigued by the prospect of Ngannou challenging the undisputed champion resulting from the Fury-Usyk fight.
If Joshua were to lose to Ngannou, who has limited professional experience, Ngannou would then face the winner of Fury vs. Usyk, potentially leading to widespread disdain for the sport.
With a 1-1 record, Ngannou aims to secure a title shot, bypassing long-time boxing contenders.
