‘Mismatch’ – Eddie Hearn says Francis Ngannou couldn’t beat Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury if they fought in a boxing match next and reveals talks with Nate Diaz’s team about potential crossover
Eddie Hearn has insisted that a boxing match between Francis Ngannou and any of the sport's top heavyweights would be a mismatch.
The promoter, who represents Anthony Joshua, took note earlier this week as the UFC champion was stripped of his belt and secured his free agency.
"Obviously at the same time, if there's a fight that you believe you can win and delivers a huge amount of money, then you're gonna be interested in that.
"The reality is Francis Ngannou vs Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder - until we see the guy in the ring, is a mismatch.
"As is Ngannou vs AJ in the cage.
"So if I'm Ngannou, what I'm doing is I'm having a couple of fights, I'm going out there, I'm working on myself as a boxer to build up to a position [to fight AJ]."
Discussing the idea further, Hearn revealed that he's held talks with another UFC star about a potential boxing crossover.
"You've got a similar situation with Nate Diaz at the moment, I've spoken to his guys," Hearn said.
"But everybody wants the cash-out fight, it all depends on the fighter.
"If Ngannou seriously wants to put himself in the frame from an ability point of view to fight those guys, I would like to see him have one or two fights [first].
"But at the same time, he may look terrible and it deflates the opportunity to make that fight, so it's difficult."