Francis Ngannou not only went all 10 rounds with Tyson Fury, but also took the heavyweight boxing champion to a close split decision, leading many to believe he should have won.
After this remarkable performance, Ngannou has received numerous potential offers for his next move, including opportunities from both MMA and boxing. While Ngannou is under a multi-fight contract with the PFL, he might be seeking a big payday in boxing, such as a lucrative rematch with Fury or a match against Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder.
PFL commentator Dan Hardy expressed his preference for seeing Ngannou return to his MMA roots, but acknowledged that “The Predator” is eager to face the toughest possible opponent in his professional boxing debut. He also admitted that he almost avoided an upset.
“Tyson Fury is probably the most challenging fighter for Ngannou in terms of style,” Hardy explained on The MMA Hour. “He’s tall, has excellent upper body movement, and is strong defensively. On the other hand, fighters like Anthony Joshua and Joe Joyce are more upright and don’t handle punches as well. They may not be as crafty as Tyson Fury.”
“I believe he has taken on the toughest challenge and proven himself. So there are plenty of opportunities for him in the boxing world, with fighters like Deontay Wilder. We have two of the most powerful punchers in the world. But stylistically, Ngannou can exploit weaknesses in Deontay Wilder’s game when he throws punches. In all honesty, I think all possibilities are open to him. We could be looking at someone who holds both the WBC and PFL titles simultaneously.”
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s long-time promoter, had already begun advocating for a final fight with Ngannou, claiming that the 2012 Olympic boxing gold medalist would defeat the former UFC champion decisively.
Hardy disagrees, particularly considering Joshua’s perceived vulnerabilities, especially his struggle to cope with adversity when not leading in a fight.
“Honestly, I think Anthony Joshua is probably one of the better opponents for Ngannou among all the heavyweights,” Hardy said. “I like the idea of Joe Joyce because of his boxing style. I don’t mean amateurish. I’m referring to his technique, where he delivers the shot but keeps his head on the center line, meaning he doesn’t move much.”
“The issue with Anthony Joshua is, I’m not sure if he can recover, especially against a 0-1 boxer who is still early in his career. I think it could be resolved sooner.”
Fury survived a third-round knockdown in his fight with Ngannou, but Hardy clearly observed Joshua getting caught by a similar punch and being unable to get back up.
“Anthony Joshua, to me, is a much better matchup for Ngannou,” Hardy said. “I could see Ngannou keeping him at bay.”
Although a boxing match may be enticing, Hardy wishes for Ngannou’s next fight to be in the PFL and is hopeful for a booking in early 2024.
“I would love to see him return to MMA,” Hardy said. “We’d like to see him headline the PFL pay-per-view event scheduled for the new year. Maybe early next year, he could have an MMA fight and then be ranked… I’d like to assess where we stand and see some results, especially in the heavyweight division. I think there are some really good matchups for Ngannou.”
