Francis Ngannou has been put in within the WBC’s high 10 rating of heavyweight contenders.
It was a choice that attracted criticism. A combined martial artist and former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou misplaced a cut up resolution to Tyson Fury in a non-title bout in October.
That was his first, and to date solely, boxing contest. However Ngannou is now ranked because the WBC’s no 10 under Otto Wallin and above Filip Hrgovic.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Oleksandr Usyk provides his verdict on the battle between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou and admits he would not take into consideration the Englishman. (Credit score: Boxing Information+)
However WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman justified the choice due to Ngannou’s efficiency in his 10-rounder in opposition to Fury, who holds the WBC heavyweight title.
“First of all it is based on the rules. The WBC rules for the ratings criteria has many parameters; record, activity, level of opposition and other matters including activity in amateur boxing, Olympic boxing or any other contact sport,” Sulaiman advised Sky Sports activities.
“We now have ranked many fighters from Thailand who’ve had a profitable Muay Thai or Thai boxing profession and so they enter into skilled boxing.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Head of fighter operations at PFL Europe Dan Hardy says that Tyson Fury wasn’t ‘switched on’ throughout his battle with Francis Ngannou and appears at potential future opponents for the previous UFC heavyweight champion
“We have so many precedents.”
Sulaiman additionally pointed to the memorable knockdown in opposition to Fury that Ngannou scored within the third spherical.
“For Ngannou to enter the rankings, it’s supported by the rules. But who can, in their state of mind, go against Ngannou being ranked? He dropped Tyson, the best heavyweight champion of today in boxing and he lost a split decision against the champion,” Sulaiman stated.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Again in the summertime, Deontay Wilder said he could be open to combating Francis Ngannou in boxing and MMA
“So who can go against that? It is only to make controversy. So if they see that it is within the rules and they see the performance he had, there is no controversy putting him No 10 in the rankings.
“It was superb. He has an enormous chin, an enormous chin, large punching energy and he was very clear. He boxed. There was a priority that he would get to the techniques of combined martial arts. No, he did an amazing battle.
“He’s humble and he’s hardworking. I’m very proud of the decision by the WBC.”
