Ngannou to fight on 23.12. - who will he fight?

[ALI]

It is being reported that the Fury vs Usyk fight is being pushed back to next year, but the Saudi's are still keen to stage a boxing event on the December 23rd date, and by all accounts, Ngannou will be the headliner. But who will he fight?

Personally i'd love to see Usyk fight Ngannou on 23.12., give him a right pasting, knock him spark out inside 3 rounds, show Fury how it should be done, and restore boxings rep among the general public lol. Probably due to contractual reasons he cant take the fight, so failing that, i'd love it to be Joshua. I'd be quite up for watching that one.

[Monzon83]

AJ should be all over this.

[ALI]

AJ should be all over this.

Should be, i agree, but who knows whats going on inside his head. I wont be surprised if he passes it up.

[ALI]

.

[joshj909]

I believe Wilder had reached out. Joshua should be jumping at the chance if Wilder isn't going to fight him.

You'd think that Ngannou wants Fury, Usyk, Joshua or Wilder. Most others are either high risk low reward, or they're just pointless fights for him financially and in terms of legacy given he's 37.

Who even are the next biggest draws? Zhang? Ruiz? Chisora? Whyte with a dodgy commission?

If Ngannou will be ranked by the WBC they might let him fight for one of their many trinkets. Ajagba is their Silver Champion. Alternatively some sort of eliminator or other fight against a top 15 guy?

Keaton Gomes is recognised as the African champion. Kabayel is the european champion which I imagine Francis can fight for.

[ALI]

I believe Wilder had reached out. Joshua should be jumping at the chance if Wilder isn't going to fight him.

You'd think that Ngannou wants Fury, Usyk, Joshua or Wilder. Most others are either high risk low reward, or they're just pointless fights for him financially and in terms of legacy given he's 37.

Who even are the next biggest draws? Zhang? Ruiz? Chisora? Whyte with a dodgy commission?

If Ngannou will be ranked by the WBC they might let him fight for one of their many trinkets. Ajagba is their Silver Champion. Alternatively some sort of eliminator or other fight against a top 15 guy?

Keaton Gomes is recognised as the African champion. Kabayel is the european champion which I imagine Francis can fight for.

There is a whole lot of attention on Ngannou's name right now, i think the Saudi's can pay him well for fighting just about anyone. Obviously Joshua and Wilder will bring the biggest purse, but they also bring the biggest risk.

[joshj909]

I believe Wilder had reached out. Joshua should be jumping at the chance if Wilder isn't going to fight him.

You'd think that Ngannou wants Fury, Usyk, Joshua or Wilder. Most others are either high risk low reward, or they're just pointless fights for him financially and in terms of legacy given he's 37.

Who even are the next biggest draws? Zhang? Ruiz? Chisora? Whyte with a dodgy commission?

If Ngannou will be ranked by the WBC they might let him fight for one of their many trinkets. Ajagba is their Silver Champion. Alternatively some sort of eliminator or other fight against a top 15 guy?

Keaton Gomes is recognised as the African champion. Kabayel is the european champion which I imagine Francis can fight for.

There is a whole lot of attention on Ngannou's name right now, i think the Saudi's can pay him well for fighting just about anyone. Obviously Joshua and Wilder will bring the biggest purse, but they also bring the biggest risk.

That's true but realistically a fight against say Parker or Hrgovic comes with big risks and could cost him a fight against one of the bigger names. Will they pay to see him fight a nobody?

[jwfg]

who knows whats going on inside his head. I wont be surprised if he passes it up.

At a guess, he wants to fight in December, then become the world champion again.

[polecateddy]

Very difficult to match him with someone credible without a significant risk of his bubble bursting and just losing badly. Who actually is decent that Ngganou can actually beat? Efe Ajagba Is a bit green and chinny perhaps?

[gilgamesh]

Very difficult to match him with someone credible without a significant risk of his bubble bursting and just losing badly. Who actually is decent that Ngganou can actually beat?

Helenius? Joe Joyce? Chisora possibly if he's still fighting.

AJ seems a bit too tough. Same with Wilder.

That's the trouble with starting with your 1st fight being against the Heavyweight Champion, it's pretty much expected that you're gonna at least fight Top 10 or 15 guys from there onward.

[polecateddy]

Very difficult to match him with someone credible without a significant risk of his bubble bursting and just losing badly. Who actually is decent that Ngganou can actually beat?

Helenius? Joe Joyce?

AJ seems a bit too tough. Same with Wilder.

That's the trouble with starting with your 1st fight being against the Heavyweight Champion, it's pretty much expected that you're gonna at least fight Top 10 or 15 guys from there onward.

I’d guess it might be someone from the mma world instead.

[gilgamesh]

Very difficult to match him with someone credible without a significant risk of his bubble bursting and just losing badly. Who actually is decent that Ngganou can actually beat?

Helenius? Joe Joyce?

AJ seems a bit too tough. Same with Wilder.

That's the trouble with starting with your 1st fight being against the Heavyweight Champion, it's pretty much expected that you're gonna at least fight Top 10 or 15 guys from there onward.

I’d guess it might be someone from the mma world instead.

That'd be safer for him. I'm sure he'll find someone.

[polecateddy]

Helenius? Joe Joyce?

AJ seems a bit too tough. Same with Wilder.

That's the trouble with starting with your 1st fight being against the Heavyweight Champion, it's pretty much expected that you're gonna at least fight Top 10 or 15 guys from there onward.

I’d guess it might be someone from the mma world instead.

That'd be safer for him. I'm sure he'll find someone.

Overeem is pretty much retired and a free agent.

[margaret thatcher]

does he need to fight a top guy? i think he's hot enough atm to just knock over some can.

is there a chris lovejoy like unbeaten record around

[jwfg]

He will either fight AJ or Wilder or it will be a novelty fight. No way on this earth he fights anyone without a 'name'.

I wouldn't be surprised if he fights Usyk.

[Twinkle Toes]

does he need to fight a top guy? i think he's hot enough atm to just knock over some can.

That was Fury's plan.

[Steveh583]

I wouldn't be surprised if he's made to look foolish vs a heavy who prepares properly

[Cyclops]

Just get AJ in there with him.

[leejonesjnr]

It’s an unusual situation is t it?
Realistically if he goes in with anyone half decent then he is ending his own boxing career before it even starts and if he goes in with someone unknown then unless Saudi money doesn’t care then there’s no reason to do it.
The vast majority of the top few hundred heavies and the top few hundred cruisers will fancy the job and probably be right to do so.

[golden_labrador]

it either won't happen or he'll be in with a name can

[Alba]

Chisora would be my shout

[The Gratest]

If the Saudi's are paying big bucks, you'd think it would be someone they know of and would provide a test to get the excitement and interest generated? A shot Chisora is a no no after comparing Fury's respective fights against both.
Parker was on the undercard and scored a good KO win, so might be at the front.

[TBA]

Wonder if they stick him in with Mark Hunt.

[jameswilson]

I can't see it being anyone bar AJ or Wilder for enormous money.

Surely Chisora doesn't generate enormous money and then Chisora very possibly beats him.

[golden_labrador]

there's no way Chisora beats Francis, surely. would be a royal rumble though