The world of combat sports recently turned into a verbal battleground after British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn took aim at Tyson Fury. The promoter criticized Fury’s fighting record and questioned the legitimacy of his status as a world heavyweight champion. This came after Fury, known for his outspoken and often controversial comments, talked up a potential super fight between UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and himself.
In a candid interview, “Eddie Hearn RIPS Tyson Fury after Francis Ngannou fight” literally became the headline as he did not hold back in expressing his disappointment with Fury’s fighting choice and the chain of events afterwards.
“For me, Tyson Fury has been a disappointment,” Hearn began, charging at Fury’s boxing resume. He contended that the heavyweight champion has only faced two top-tier opponents in his entire professional boxing career, namely Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder.
Hearn didn’t stop there. He took the opportunity to critique Fury’s interest in fighting UFC superstar Ngannou, a wild deviation from traditional boxing opponents. “I think Tyson should focus on his own sport. It’s all very well talking about fighting Ngannou, but he should concentrate on boxing,” Hearn said.
The name Francis Ngannou has been tarnished all over recent combat sports discussions after Fury mentioned his name following his victorious third bout against Deontay Wilder. Despite being a UFC champion powerhouse known for his savage power, Ngannou is novice in the realm of professional boxing.
Fury’s recent win over Wilder revived talks about a potential unification fight with fellow British heavyweight, Anthony Joshua. However, the endless speculation and talk about the fight has recently been overshadowed by Fury hinting at a potential cross-code match with UFC’s Ngannou.
Hearn, Anthony Joshua’s promoter, had long been calling for a Fury vs. Joshua showdown. It’s a fight that boxing fans worldwide have been clamoring for, a match that would undisputedly decide who the best heavyweight in the world is. Hearn believes that Fury venturing into UFC sphere of influence distorts the image of professional boxing and discredits his own credibility.
Fury’s trash talk and showmanship are certainly profitable selling points in the world of combat sports. However, Hearn raised a valid concern about Fury’s seeming disregard for the boxing realm in favor of the “greener grass” of UFC-inspired match-ups.
Hearn further reiterated that Fury’s call-out of Ngannou was nothing more than a distraction to veer from his responsibilities as a professional boxer, stating boldly, “In my opinion, Fury doesn’t want to face top contenders in boxing, so he uses Ngannou as a smokescreen.”
Even within the combative sphere of professional boxing, Eddie Hearn’s claims carry weight. Many pundits and fans echoed Hearn’s sentiments, calling for Fury to focus on his boxing career before completely diving into the world of mixed martial arts.
As a sports journalist and a keen observer of both boxing and the UFC, it’s apparent that while a fight between Fury and Ngannou would have the financial potential and drawing power, it detracts from the traditional principle of boxing. In summary, Eddie Hearn’s criticism, though quite vocal, echoes the sentiment of many stakeholders in the world of professional boxing striving for its authenticity and prestige to be maintained.
