Francis Ngannou envisions a potential showdown between himself and Deontay Wilder, a match-up that would showcase two of the most powerful hitters in their respective combat sports.
The 37-year-old former UFC heavyweight champion is currently preparing for his second professional boxing bout against former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia in March.
Originally slated as a face-off with Joshua and Deontay Wilder, the landscape shifted when Wilder suffered a surprising defeat to Joseph Parker in December.
Despite the change in plans, Ngannou remains open to the possibility of squaring off against Wilder after concluding his business with Joshua and potentially Tyson Fury.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Ngannou expressed his eagerness for new challenges in his boxing career, identifying Fury, Joshua, and Wilder as the top contenders on his radar.
“I’m here for the boxing career, and there I have a lot of challenges, a lot of names. For example, the top three guys that I’ve always had are Fury, Joshua, and Wilder,” Ngannou stated, making it clear that a clash with Wilder is a desire he intends to fulfill.
Wilder, at 38, has faced setbacks in three of his past four bouts, notably against Fury and Parker, marking a shift from his previous 42-0-1 streak. Recognizing Wilder’s formidable power, Ngannou sees the potential bout as a significant challenge.
“Wilder better get it together because I’m not done, I want that name on my record,” Ngannou emphasized, underlining his determination to add Wilder’s name to his list of conquered opponents.
While Wilder remains an appealing option for Ngannou, the location and format of this theoretical bout are yet to be determined. Ngannou revealed, “Two months ago, we were talking about fighting Deontay Wilder in the PFL [Professional Fighters League]. The landscape can change quickly. Everything is possible.”
Although Ngannou maintains his commitment to competing in MMA, particularly in the PFL, his current focus lies on his boxing career. He acknowledged reaching the pinnacle of his MMA career as the former MMA champion and emphasized the allure of new challenges and excitement in the realm of boxing.
“In my MMA career, I got to the point that is everyone’s dream. I was an MMA champion. There are some great fights to do in MMA, but there’s not a new challenge, something exciting in MMA,” Ngannou concluded, highlighting the shift in his current sporting priorities.
