Eddie Hearn correctly predicted Tyson Fury's next fight would not be a world title defence, but a crossover spectacle against UFC heavyweight Francis Ngannou later this year.
However, the Matchroom Boxing boss was wrong in a number of details, labelling the bout an exhibition and most notably claiming that there would be no knockdowns in the heavyweight showdown. Promoters have since declared that the fight will be a standard boxing fight for all intents and purposes, and there is still a chance it will land on both of their official records.
Fury and Ngannou won't be competing for the Brit's WBC heavyweight title, but it is believed that their bout will take place under full professional boxing rules in a regulation ring. And organisers aren't even calling it an exhibition, with the full state of the fight still to be confirmed after the governing body allowed Fury an exemption from his status as champion to have a non-title fight.
"Yes, I believe so, this is what I've heard," Hearn told Boxing Social of the crossover super-fight, which will see the top heavyweights from boxing and MMA square off for the first time in history. "It will be an exhibition apparently, no knockdowns or anything. I don't know, I'm only telling you what I've heard.
"Who knows what's what, but I think that is apparently what is going to be the next fight. [It's] disappointing, but it is what it is. It's a big event, but I wanted to see him fight Oleksandr Usyk. It'd be nice to get an undisputed champion, but Tyson's in charge of his own career and I'm sure he's gonna make a load of money, good luck to him."
There have previously been exhibitions with such rules, most notably a showcase between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr in November of 2020. The two former champions met behind closed doors at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and drew over 1.6million buys to the event.
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However, they were forced by the California State Athletic Commission to stick to a rigid ruleset that included no knockouts or even knockdowns. Despite Tyson dominating, the bout ended as a 'draw', and it is believed that no score would have been allowed either way.
Floyd Mayweather also frequently competes in such exhibitions, in which his opponents are allowed to weigh as much as two-stone heavier than him and at times he doesn't have to tip the scales at all. Those fights are not scored and regularly end without a winner, most notably against Logan Paul.
Fury and Ngannou will have judges scoring on the 10-point must system, and can knock each other down or out. It is expected that the boxer will comfortably win, but they are marketing the bout on the MMA champion's record-breaking punching power that has been deemed the heaviest in the world.
