Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Anthony Joshua, has confirmed that he has been in talks with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou about a potential bout with the British‑Nigerian boxer. Ngannou, who became the market’s hottest prospect after leaving the UFC without securing a contract extension, was forced to vacate his title. Hearn wasted no time reaching out, hoping to secure a crossover super‑fight that could see Joshua beat Tyson Fury for the opportunity.
Speaking on The MMA Hour, Hearn said, “We’ll see what happens. For me, we would love to be involved with his career. The Anthony Joshua fight is probably among the biggest fights that can be made in any sport. Obviously the Tyson Fury fight is there for him as well.” He added that, although he isn’t a massive MMA fan, he respects Ngannou’s achievements and found him to be “an outstanding gentleman.”
Hearn would prefer Ngannou jump straight into a blockbuster fight with Joshua rather than work his way up through several bouts. “I think he should fight Anthony Joshua,” he said, noting that other fighters, such as those associated with Nate Diaz, face a steep climb when challenging an elite boxer. “Going through two or three fights, you might look bad because you’re learning, so the value really is the unknown.”
He elaborated on the appeal of a clash between the two titans: “What happens when the UFC heavyweight world champion Francis Ngannou meets the two‑time world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua? The complete unknown. We know Ngannou punches extremely hard; if he lands one on Joshua, could it be the greatest upset of all time? Or will AJ steamroll him and knock Ngannou out? That’s the attraction—the unknown.”
Finally, Hearn emphasized his role in maximizing Ngannou’s next move: “If I’m representing Francis Ngannou, I want to make sure that this next move maximises every dollar that’s out there. He’s done the hard work, the years of hustle, to get himself in a position to move forward with what he wants to do.”
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