Promoter Eddie Hearn is optimistic that the upcoming Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou heavyweight bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will attract 1 million pay-per-view (PPV) buys on DAZN and Sky PPV.
Hearn believes that the former UFC powerhouse Ngannou, who had a controversial 10-round split decision last October, is being given a chance at victory by boxing fans.
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In addition, Hearn feels that after Joshua’s recent win over Otto Wallin last December, many perceive Joshua as the best fighter in the world and likely to beat Fury as well.
Considering Fury’s recent fights, including matches against Ngannou and Derek Chisora, it’s easy to imagine Joshua’s lack of interest in the 35-year-old contender.
Whether this makes Joshua the number one fighter in the division remains uncertain until he faces other contenders such as Zhilei Zhang. If Joshua beats Fury, he may be the best heavyweight in Britain, but not in the world.
“I’m confident but nervous. Ngannou is a huge guy,” said Eddie Hearn. When asked on March 8, Anthony Joshua acknowledged the danger posed by Ngannou and praised his confidence, mindset, and punching power.
The perfect storm for PPV success
“It could reach a million. It’s a significant fight,” Hearn commented when asked about the PPV potential of Joshua vs. Ngannou on DAZN and Sky Sports.
Hearn pointed out that the current belief in Joshua’s potential to be the best heavyweight in the world, coupled with the rising momentum behind him and the intriguing fight between Ngannou and Fury, could lead to significant PPV success.
“Now you have the MMA world, the boxing world, and the casual world. There are now many followers of Francis Ngannou. So, I think it’s going to be a great night,” Hearn added.
