Eddie Hearn criticizes the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) for the upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Francis Nagano mentions the boxing match. MMA star and former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou is set to make his boxing debut against Fury on October 28, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Although professional boxing icon Tyson Fury (33-0-1 boxing; 0-0 MMA) is the current WBC heavyweight champion, his WBC title will not be on the line in his bout against Francis Naginno (0-0 boxing; 17- 3 MMA). Instead, the 'Riyadh Champion’ belt will be at stake in the Fury-Naganno matchup.
The booking of the fight has drawn criticism from some sections of the fighting game community. Many argue that the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) should not have sanctioned Ngannou, who is regarded as one of the greatest boxers in the world today, as his boxing debut.
Speaking to IFL TV’s Andrew McCart, Matchroom boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has now slammed the BBBofC. The UK Boxing Authority has suggested that the BBBofC is yet to sanction the much-anticipated bout between UK boxers Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Penn. The denial comes after Penn tested positive for banned PEDs earlier this year.
Hearn pointed out that the BBBofC had changed the rules for the Fury-Nagannov fight, allowing the fight to take place in Saudi Arabia, even though it was not under the jurisdiction of the BBBofC. Emphasizing that the The BBBofC may similarly allow the Eubank-Benn fight to be contested in the UK, Hearn said:
„British Boxing Board of Control [BBBofC] They are sanctioning a fight between the 34 and 0 heavyweights in Saudi Arabia next week [Fury]Who is the number one heavyweight in the world against a guy? [Ngannou] Professional code does not include wearing a pair of boxing gloves. So, it’s okay. Why are you allowing that protest?
„It wasn’t under their rules to sanction a British title fight outside of England. They changed those rules. But they also allow a fight between the number one heavyweight in the world and a guy who’s never boxed before… When a guy [Conor Benn] Won a case with UKAD [UK Anti-Doping] And because he’s not suspended he has the right to fight in Britain and we’ll go ahead and do that.”
Watch Hearn’s assessment at 6:20 in the video below:
Francis Naginno could elevate an undisputed heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk
Former UFC athlete Francis Naginno is believed to be able to change the landscape of professional boxing, whether he wins or inflicts significant damage against Tyson Fury in a failed attempt. Fury has signed an undisputed heavyweight title deal with unified heavyweight titleholder Oleksandr Usyk.
The Fury-Usyk matchup is expected to take place on either December 23, 2023 or January 2024. However, if Tyson Fury loses or sustains major damage/injury in his fight against Francis Ngannou, the Oleksandr Usyk fight will suffer. 'd thereby delay the crowning of boxing’s new undisputed heavyweight champion.
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