Exclusive: Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua's ex-rival gives honest opinion on Francis Ngannou as a heavyweight boxer: "He can give people trouble"
Francis Ngannou's foray into professional boxing has sparked significant interest, particularly following his high-profile matchups with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Despite losing both fights, the former UFC heavyweight champion has consistently expressed interest in returning to boxing, attracting challenges from several notable boxing figures.
According to Otto Wallin, an ex-rival of both Fury and Joshua, Ngannou’s performance in these bouts has showcased that he could be a real threat in the heavyweight boxing division. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA, Wallin said:
"I think that he did really good with [Tyson] Fury. I think that he did much better than anybody could've imagined... at least for myself and other people in boxing. He did really good there and Joshua, he was well prepared for him [Ngannou] and took him out obviously. But I think Ngannou is a much better boxer than I expected. I think he can give people trouble. He's a big strong guy... I think he can probably give people problems."
Check out Otto Wallin's exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA below:
Ngannou surpassed the expectations of many in his fight against Fury. Despite losing by split decision, he displayed impressive strength and resilience, forcing Fury to dig deep, something no one predicted. However, his subsequent knockout loss to Joshua revealed weaknesses in his technical boxing skills.
As for Wallin, the Swedish boxer is gearing up to take on Derek Chisora on Feb. 8, 2025, in Manchester, England. Chisora is coming off a knockout win against Onoriode Ehwarieme in July, which improved his record to 27-2.
Turki Alalshikh reveals potential fight for Francis Ngannou in boxing next
Saudi Arabian adviser Turki Alalshikh has revealed potential options for Francis Ngannou's next fight following his successful return to MMA in October. Ngannou recently knocked out Renan Ferreira in less than a minute at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants and captured the inaugural PFL Super Fights heavyweight championship.
Alalshikh, who has worked with Ngannou in the past, mentioned that two major options are being considered for the former UFC heavyweight champion. One involves a matchup in MMA, while the other would see him return to the boxing ring. Speaking in an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Alalshikh said:
“Why don’t we see [Francis] Ngannou against [Deontay] Wilder?” I need to sit with Wilder. In [just] two minutes, I can gauge his condition and determine if he’s ready or not. I don’t want to waste time and money anymore, I need to check first if he’s still got it. We have a lot of business together. I have two options on the table for Francis: One in MMA and one in boxing. I want to discuss them with him.”
Check out Turki Alalshikh's comments below (4:00):