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Eddie Hearn Reveals Anthony Joshua Showed “Absolutely No Interest at All” in Fighting Francis Ngannou Before Tyson Fury Finalized on a Deal

Published 07/28/2023, 10:04 AM EDT

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Tyson Fury sent shockwaves when he confirmed that he will fight former UFC champion Francis Ngannou in a boxing match. As unlikely as this matchup is, this has left the boxing world divided. However, it should be noted that the confirmation of the fight comes right on the heels of Fury’s offer for a potential showdown with Anthony Joshua being shot down by the latter. And, even though the world never saw these two heavyweights lock horns, the off-court tension between the two raised many hopes. But, it seems, Fury chose to fight ‘The Predator’ instead of AJ. Meanwhile, Fury’s British counterpart also had the opportunity0 to fight Ngannou but he was not too keen on it.

Recently, the former two-time unified champion’s promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that he was considering a potential showdown with the MMA fighter for his client. But Joshua snubbed that opportunity. According to Hearn, the heavyweight is focused on the bigger picture. But what exactly is it?

AJ was not interested in fighting Ngannou

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In a recent interview with TalkSport, the British promoter opened up about the time he discussed a potential fight between Joshua and Ngannou. He revealed what Joshua’s response was at the time. And how he was devoted to his goal rather than fighting someone who is not involved with the sport primarily.

While quoting Joshua, Hearn said, “Absolutely no interest at all, I wanna become heavyweight world champion again, I’ve got no interest in fighting Francis Ngannou.”

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It seems, after his return to the boxing ring after two back-to-back defeats against Usyk, the 33-year-old is dedicated to paving his way to becoming a heavyweight champion again.

It should be noted that Fury made an offer to Joshua for a title fight. But AJ ignored the offer from ‘The Gypsy King.’ And showed his interest in fighting some other top names in the division. However, after many failed negotiations, Fury will be making his return this year in a boxing bout against Ngannou.

Tyson Fury Wants the Man Who Made Anthony Joshua ‘Cry Like a Little Girl’ as Next Opponent

Notably, Fury’s WBC title will not be up for grabs in this fight.

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Will Joshua and Fury ever clash?

There is no doubt that Joshua vs Fury is one of the most anticipated match-ups in the sport. And even though their negotiations have not proven to be fruitful in the past, the fans are still hopeful that these two heavyweight icons will meet in the ring in the future.

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However, the two have fights planned for the time being. Moreover, AJ is rumored to meet Deontay Wilder for a potential fight in Saudi Arabia after his clash with Dillian White. So, it is safe to say that even if these two fight, it will not be anytime soon. Who do you think will win if Fury and Joshua fight? Let us know in the comments.

Watch This Story: Everything We Know So Far About Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou

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Written by:

Agrim Sharma

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Agrim Sharma is a Boxing writer at EssentiallySports. Boxing is Agrim's first love, and he has been enamored with the sport since witnessing the sheer courage and tenacity of 'Iron' Mike in his fight against Peter McNeeley. Agrim's recent coverage of the Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury fight was widely appreciated by readers.
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Edited by:

Arijit Saha