Francis Ngannou has established himself within the heavyweight division after fighting lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to a split decision loss on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On Wednesday, November 15, the World Boxing Council (WBC) rewarded Ngannou for his performance in Saudia Arabia by listing him as the 10th-best heavyweight in their latest rankings.
Ngannou is still winless as a professional boxer, but he remains one of the hottest names in the sport. Last month, he entered the ring at Boulevard Hall in Saudia Arabia as a massive underdog against Tyson Fury. However, expectations for the fight’s outcome quickly shifted as the former UFC heavyweight champion knocked down Fury in the third round. By the final bell, the Cameroonian boxer had done enough to win by a single point on the scorecard of Ed Garner. Alan Krebs and Juan Carlos Pelayo sided with the lineal champion instead.
By positioning Ngannou as the tenth best heavyweight in the world, the WBC has paved the way for a rematch in the future. In the first matchup, Fury’s heavyweight title was not up for grabs due to Ngannou’s lack of experience and ranking. With acknowledgment from the WBC, Ngannou would now be able to grab Fury’s WBC Heavyweight Title in a rematch if he were to prevail.
