WBC Confirms Francis Ngannou's Title Shot Opportunity After Tyson Fury Bout
The World Boxing Council (WBC) has officially recognized Francis Ngannou's remarkable performance against Tyson Fury, granting him the opportunity to challenge for the WBC title in any potential rematch with the champion, Tyson Fury. Ngannou's unexpected showing in their bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, raised eyebrows and captured the attention of the boxing community. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, speaking to reporters in Saudi Arabia, expressed his belief that Ngannou deserves a place in the latest WBC Rankings list after his impressive performance against Fury. Although Ngannou didn't secure the victory, he managed to drop Fury to the canvas and pushed the match to a split decision. Consequently, Sulaiman will recommend that Ngannou be ranked among the top fifteen contenders in the WBC with a professional boxing record of 0-1. To challenge for the WBC title, fighters must be ranked in the top fifteen. With Fury being the current champion, he now has the option to choose Ngannou for a voluntary defense. This development paves the way for a potential Fury vs. Ngannou II to become a legitimate world title fight, entitling the WBC to sanctioning fees. However, Ngannou's path to the title may not be straightforward due to Fury's existing contract with Oleksandr Usyk. Fury is contractually obligated to face Usyk in an undisputed championship bout. This contractual agreement may result in Ngannou biding his time for about a year. Fury vs. Usyk includes a two-way rematch clause, meaning they will have two consecutive fights. Promoter Frank Warren has expressed his intention to actively seek another opponent for Ngannou during this interim period. Warren believes that Ngannou's newfound stardom and heroic display in the ring have elevated his status, opening doors to massive fights. The rematch between Ngannou and Fury is anticipated to be as significant as the bout with Usyk. Warren is eager to secure a top-level opponent for Ngannou and foresees Ngannou climbing the rankings after his performance. He expressed confidence in Ngannou's ability, stating that Ngannou would be a formidable opponent for several top-ten contenders. The unfortunate factor for Ngannou is the prior signing of the fight with Usyk. If not for this contract, a WBC title rematch between Fury and Ngannou would have been the next logical step. Fury, who is eager to restore his reputation after an underwhelming performance against Ngannou, now has a packed schedule, with Usyk and Ngannou on the horizon for the next eighteen months.
