Before Moses Itauma and Filip Hrgovic settle the IBF heavyweight question, there is another compelling zero-versus-zero matchup to resolve on the Natural Born Thriller undercard. Nelson Hysa (24-0) and Thomas Narmo (14-0) are both unbeaten heavyweights, both carry genuine knockout power, and both have a title to fight for — and over — when they collide at the O2 Arena on Saturday August 29, 2026. Hysa defends the WBO Global Heavyweight title against Norway’s “Last Viking” in a fight that could announce the winner to the wider heavyweight world.
| Date | Saturday, August 29, 2026 |
| Venue | O2 Arena, Greenwich, London |
| Promotion | Queensberry Promotions |
| Broadcast | DAZN |
| Title | WBO Global Heavyweight Championship |
| Scheduled Rounds | 10 × 3 minutes |
Nelson “The Albanian Eagle” Hysa (24-0) is 41 years old, born in Shkoder, Albania in September 1984, and fighting out of Shkoder. He stands 6’5” (196cm) with a 79” (201cm) reach, and has been one of boxing’s most relentless heavyweight prospects in recent years — remarkable for beginning his professional career at the age of 38.
Hysa is a serial knockout artist. Every one of his 24 professional wins has ended by stoppage or retirement — a 100% finishing rate that has turned heads throughout the heavyweight division. He returned to action in October 2025 with a third-round stoppage of Abel Pesut, continuing a run of wins that includes three-round knockouts of Edwin Castillo and Todorche Cvetkov. He has been ranked by the WBA in the top three of its heavyweight rankings.
He is the WBO Global Heavyweight champion and enters this fight as a heavy favourite at -850.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Rnd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | Abel Pesut | W | TKO | R3 |
| Jun 2025 | Patrick Korte | W | TKO | R2 |
| Apr 2025 | Edwin Castillo | W | KO | R3 |
| Mar 2025 | Yonny Molina | W | TKO | R1 |
| Feb 2025 | Todorche Cvetkov | W | TKO | R3 |
Thomas “The Last Viking” Narmo (14-0) is 32 years old, born in Norway in May 1994, and trains at Frontline Muay Thai in Norway. He is an imposing physical specimen — 6’7” (201cm) tall with an 83” (211cm) reach — and has looked impressive across his 14 professional victories.
Narmo turned professional in 2022 and has since built his unbeaten record with notable wins including a fourth-round knockout of former heavyweight contender Mark De Mori and a second-round stoppage of Edwin Castillo — a fighter who Hysa also stopped in three rounds. His most recent activity includes wins in both 2025 and 2026, and he enters this fight as a legitimate challenger who is backed by 20% of the Tapology community.
At 6’7” with a 4” reach advantage over Hysa, Narmo’s physical attributes are genuinely formidable and represent a different kind of challenge to anything the Albanian has faced so far.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Rnd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Recent W | W | — | — |
| 2025 | Mark De Mori | W | KO | R4 |
| 2025 | Edwin Castillo | W | TKO | R2 |
| — | Dominic Vial | W | TKO | R1 |
| — | Fatih Keles | L* | — | — |
Note: The Keles result appears in Narmo’s record but is not reflected in his current Tapology pro record of 14-0. Tapology classifies Narmo at 14-0-0 for this fight.
| Hysa | Narmo | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 41 | 32 |
| Record | 24-0 | 14-0 |
| KO Rate | 100% | — |
| Height | 6’5” / 196cm | 6’7” / 201cm |
| Reach | 79” / 201cm | 83” / 211cm |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Nationality | Albania | Norway |
| Debut | 2022 | 2022 |
This is a fascinating clash of styles and ambitions. Both men are unbeaten, both carry genuine power, and neither has been tested by a genuine peer at this level before.
Hysa is the more proven operator on the Queensberry circuit, with more fights, more rounds and a significantly higher-profile set of recent opponents. His 100% finishing rate is extraordinary and suggests elite-level punching power for the heavyweight division. At 41, he is older, but has shown no signs of decline — his recent fights have been quick and decisive.
Narmo has the significant physical advantages: 2” of height and 4” of reach. At 6’7” he towers over most heavyweights, and his reach of 83” rivals the elite of the division. If he can establish his jab and keep Hysa at distance, he has a genuine chance to neutralise Hysa’s aggression and control the fight.
The critical dynamic is whether Narmo’s youth and physical tools can keep Hysa away for enough rounds, or whether Hysa’s ferocious pressure eventually breaks through. Hysa has never been taken past five rounds in his professional career — but he has also never faced an opponent of Narmo’s dimensions and (relative) calibre.
Hysa is a heavy favourite at -850 on US moneylines, with Narmo at +550. The market has significant confidence in Hysa, and with good reason — his finishing rate is extraordinary and Narmo has yet to be tested against a finisher of this quality.
The most likely outcome is a Hysa stoppage win somewhere in the first five rounds. Narmo’s size and reach give him a real chance, particularly if he can keep the fight on the outside, but Hysa’s relentless pressure and elite finishing have overwhelmed every opponent he has faced.
Prediction: Nelson Hysa by TKO, rounds 2–5. The Albanian Eagle’s finishing instincts and aggression should be too much for the challenger on the big O2 stage, though Narmo’s size means this could be trickier than some of Hysa’s recent outings.
UK: DAZN — undercard begins approximately 3pm BST US: DAZN — undercard begins approximately 10am ET
What title is on the line in Hysa vs Narmo? The WBO Global Heavyweight Championship, held by Nelson Hysa going into the fight.
Has Nelson Hysa ever been stopped? No. Hysa has finished all 24 of his opponents and has never been stopped himself.
What is Thomas Narmo’s record? 14-0 (14-0-0) at the time of this fight.
Where is Nelson Hysa from? Nelson Hysa was born in Shkoder, Albania, in September 1984.
How tall is Thomas Narmo? Thomas Narmo stands 6’7” (201cm) tall with a reach of 83” (211cm).
Who is the favourite in Hysa vs Narmo? Hysa is a heavy favourite at -850 on US moneylines, with Narmo at +550.
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