Eddie Hearn in talks with Francis Ngannou over Anthony Joshua fight dubbed 'Rumble in the Jungle 2'
31/10/2023 11:34
Francis Ngannou has opened up a whole new realm of possibilities for Anthony Joshua after his fight with Tyson Fury.
MMA star Ngannou was controversially denied victory over heavyweight champion Fury in his first ever professional boxing fight on Saturday.
The Cameroonian dropped Fury in round three but found himself on the wrong end of a split decision.
And now, promoter Eddie Hearn wants to see Joshua vs Ngannou in Africa, suggesting it could be as big as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974.
“I can’t believe I’m even saying this, but Francis Ngannou vs Anthony Joshua becomes a huge fight…” Hearn told talkSPORT.
“If I’m Francis Ngannou I’m looking at it saying give me the biggest fight possible and that’s two fights, it’s Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder.
“They’re the two massive fights for Ngannou, two huge men. But, we’ll see, I can’t even believe we’re talking about this.”
Joshua had been expected to fight Wilder in January next year in Saudi Arabia, but it fell through and now both camps are having to explore alternative locations.
“Everyone agreed the terms, purse, and everything for that fight for January in Saudi Arabia, they didn’t come through in that particular instance. So, we’re now looking at March or April for that [Wilder] fight.”
And due to the delay, Joshua wants to fight in December to stay active, but his opponent or an exact date is yet to be announced, leaving the door open for a potential Ngannou clash.
Hearn added: “AJ wants to fight in December or January. We have also spoken very briefly to the Ngannou camp to say we’d be willing to look at that fight.
“I love that fight in Africa, the ‘Rumble in the Jungle 2’ out there would be incredible between two heavyweight giants.
“But, AJ wants to win the world heavyweight title, that’s the main focus, so whatever route will get him there the quickest, that’s what he wants to do.”
And as if that weren’t enough options to explore, Hearn also wants to see Joshua fight Fury in the near future, as he said: “If AJ was in the ring on Saturday night, he would’ve stopped Tyson Fury within six rounds and I believe he does it now.
“I don’t believe his punch resistance is the same coming through those Deontay Wilder fights, I’m not sure his hearts in it…
“So, for me we want to get that Fury fight for AJ as quickly as possible.”
