🖼️ The Heavyweight Picture

January 28, 2022

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Fight With Teddy Atlas Newsletter, your one stop shop for all things combat sports related, brought to you by Teddy and The Fight team.

Teddy Atlas and co-host Ken Rideout discuss the weekend of fights with UFC 270 Ngannou vs Gane along with the Gary Russell Jr. title fight in boxing. They also discuss news that Anthony Joshua may be taking $20+ million to step aside and let Oleksandr Usyk fight Tyson Fury.

Thanks for being with us.…

Every Friday We Bring You:

  • A combat sports news digest with all the headlines you need to know from Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts.

  • Highlights from the podcast and across the fight world.

  • Fight times and information you need to know ahead of time.

  • How to’s and tips for Boxing from Teddy himself

Fight News From Around The 🌍

To Step Aside Or Not To Step Aside?

Despite there not having been a heavyweight title fight since October of last year, the title picture in boxings glamour division has never been clearer than today.

Despite reports to the contrary, Anthony Joshua looks set to continue with the contractually mandated rematch against unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, who outpointed the Brit back in September of 2021 to become a 2 division world champ.

There were rumours that he had been offered a staggering $20 million to step aside and let Usyk face WBC and The Ring champion Tyson Fury in a fight for all the belts, with a promise to fighting the winner of that Undisputed bout.

However, it seems the likelihood of "AJ" accepting any step aside offer has been drastically reduced by Tyson Fury's obligations to face Dillian Whyte in a defence of his WBC title.

Dillian Whyte has been mandatory contender/interim champion for the WBC heavyweight title for close to 4 years, having held the spot since 2018.

Despite talks of a step aside on his end as well, he looks set for a fight against the Gypsy King in the UK in around April. Had he stepped aside for Fury, it would have paved the way for Joshua to do the same and lay the path for an Undisputed fight.

From the latest developments, it seems that everyone will be pursuing their original contractual obligations.

Usyk will grant Joshua a chance to win his belts back, most likely in London again, whilst Fury will grant Whyte his long awaited shot at a heavyweight title.

This time last week, it seemed that out of the ring negotiations may have allowed Usyk and Fury to meet next to decide the one, true heavyweight king.

Whether that will still be the matchup that decides the first Undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis will now be decided by what happens inside the four corners of the ring.

Whatever happens, it looks like 2022 may finally be the year that the Heavyweight division is unified in its entirety.

Leaving On A High?

Speaking of heavyweights.

In beating Ciryl Gane by Unanimous Decision last week, Francis Ngannou put the decisive stamp on what could potentially be his last fight in the UFC.

He's now beaten 3 of the 5 top contenders in decisive fashion, displaying the arsenal of a truly complete champion across all of them.

Pundits and fans alike were virtually unanimous in the view that Ngannou's only path to victory against Gane was to knock him out, or at the very least out-strike him.

The first two rounds were exactly what Ngannou didn't want. Lot's of lateral movement and feinting from Gane, with well timed kicks to keep him off balance and prevent power shots.

The adjustment in round 3 is where the fight turned.

Francis looked to get in close with Gane and take him to the mat, executing 4 successful takedowns and getting over 8 mins of total control time.

It was a new look for the champ, who has only shown his grappling credentials in spurts and never for extended periods of a fight.

It was a strategy that will no doubt have taken Gane by surprise, as he will have been preparing for Ngannou's power on the feet and countering it with well timed shots and kicks.

The interim champ did himself justice and we'll no doubt be seeing him in the title picture again, especially if Ngannou leaves the organisation in the near future.

It is Ngannou's future that is attracting more attention however, with talks of him crossing over into boxing to face Tyson Fury.

Given the recent developments discussed previously, this isn't looking that likely, despite the fact it would be a blockbuster heavyweight event.

The fight with Gane signified the final fight on Ngannou's contract. With his successful title defence, the promotion can utilise a champion's clause that will extend his time under the UFC banner.

Regardless, Ngannou's contract ends in January 2023, so he could enter free agency if he waits 12 more months. Having allegedly sustained a serious knee injury in the lead up to the fight, time off is a certainty for the champ.

Whether we'll see him next in the Octagon, or in the ring, is another question altogether.

Fight ⏰ for this weekend

Boxing: Conceição vs Martinez (Saturday 29th/Sunday 30th)

  • 🇺🇸 Full Card: 8pm Eastern/ 5pm Pacific | Main Event: 10pm Eastern/ 7pm Pacific

  • 🇬🇧 Full Card: 1am | Main Event: 3am 

  • 🇦🇺 Full Card: 12pm Eastern/ 9am Western | Main Event: 2pm Eastern/ 11am Western

Boxing: Makabu vs Mhunu (Saturday 29th/Sunday 30th)

  • 🇺🇸 Full Card: 7pm Eastern/ 4pm Pacific | Main Event: 9pm Eastern/ 6pm Pacific

  • 🇬🇧 Full Card: 12am | Main Event: 2am 

  • 🇦🇺 Full Card: 11am Eastern/ 8am Western | Main Event: 1pm Eastern/ 10am Western

Don't forget to tune in to the latest episode 🎧

Thanks for being with us and see you next week #BANG💥