Tyson Fury has announced he will face MMA star Francis Ngannou in a crossover boxing bout in October, making it highly unlikely that he will defend his WBC world title this year.
The bout has been met by negativity in boxing circles, with many fans believing it contributes to an already slow-moving heavyweight division.
In response to the event, the team of Fury’s championship rival, Oleksandr Usyk, called for his world title to be stripped due to inactivity.
Hall of Fame fighter turned pundit, Carl Froch, does not agree. Speaking to Genting Casino, ‘The Cobra’ said it was down to the WBC to enforce a mandatory – something they have failed to do.
“If the WBC calls a mandatory and he’s not fulfilling his mandatory obligations then they should strip him but if he’s not been ordered to fight, he’s within his right to keep hold of that belt and go and do this celebrity clown show that he’s involved in.
The WBC should not strip him. If I had the belt and I was going to earn a fortune to fight for an easy win, then I’d ask ‘why are you taking the belt off me?’ Tyson Fury is the man in the division who can demand all the money and TV, and he’s fought and beat everyone.”
Although the world title will not be on the line against the unranked debutant Ngannou, the WBC have confirmed their champion has ‘special permission’ to proceed with the bout.
Despite being clear on Fury remaining world champ, in the same interview Froch calls the fight ‘a load of rubbish’ and ‘not a boxing match.’
The event is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 28.