The WBC has defended its decision to rank former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in the top 10 after his loss to Anthony Joshua.Chairman Mauricio Sulaiman said the current heavyweight ranking is under review.
9:13, UK, Thursday 14th March 2024
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said he supports the decision to rank Francis Ngannou in the top 10, despite the former UFC heavyweight champion's knockout loss to Anthony Joshua.
Ngannou is ranked 10th in the WBC rankings thanks to an impressive boxing debut in October when he faced Tyson Fury, defeating the undefeated world champion by split decision and scoring an impressive third-round KO. It was done.
His performance was so impressive that Ngannou was favored by some to embarrass Joshua, but the former unified world champion suffered three brutal defeats en route to victory in Saudi Arabia. He simply asserted his superiority by taking a knockdown.
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“100 percent [we stand by the decision to rank him in the top 10], by mere fact. Everyone criticized the WBC, me and the evaluation committee,” Sulaiman said. Sky Sports.
“They jumped the gun and a month later the fight with Joshua was announced and no one said anything. It's a matter of trend, we don't go with popularity, we don't dominate, we don't decide. This is not a popularity contest.”
“We base our decisions on facts and rules, and Ngannou's ranking is fully supported by WBC rules and is clear based on the rankings we take into account the athlete's performance in other contact sports.”
“We have ranked so many Muay Thai fighters who have made the transition to international boxing.”
Look at what Joshua said to Ngannou in the ring after the match.
Ngannou will leave the UFC in early 2023 to pursue opportunities in boxing, while also signing with the Professional Fighters League in consideration of continuing his MMA career.
Joshua insisted on Friday that he's not done picking up gloves and chasing his childhood dreams, and he also encouraged his rival to stay in the ring. It remains to be seen what the 37-year-old, who has also agreed to fight PFL heavyweight champion Renan Ferreira, will do next.
Joshua stopped Ngannou with the same shot that caused a massive knockout earlier in his career. Here are some of AJ's biggest hits over the years.
“No one says anything, but Ngannou is a controversial big name. And then Joshua came and knocked him out in the second round,” Sulaiman said.
”[Joe] Frazier was knocked out in the second round [George] Foreman. Does that mean Frazier is a bad fighter who shouldn't have become champion after defeating Ali?
“Ngannou came very close to defeating WBC champion Fury, but he knocked him down and the decision came close to a split decision.
“Joshua looked great, that's why he's a contender for the WBC No. 1 ranking, and I support Ngannou's ranking.
“We're creating this month's rankings as we speak, and we'll see where the committee places Ngannou.”
