British heavyweight Derek Chisora has set his sights on an ambitious showdown with Francis Ngannou in Africa, aiming to make his milestone 50th professional bout a celebration of African excellence.
Before pursuing this dream matchup, Chisora (35-13, 23 KOs) must first face Otto Wallin in February. The veteran boxer’s previous arrangement with Jarrell Miller was shelved due to legal complications with promoter Dmitry Salita.
“I want to push [for] that [fight]…If I can get Francis Ngannou in Africa for our own African people to see us perform instead of us performing in European countries and in Saudi…It will give a taste to our young up-and-coming talent in Africa to see African warriors go at it,” Chisora expressed.
The two athletes were recently spotted together at Old Trafford, where Ngannou participated in a playful wrestling exchange with Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana following Thursday’s victory.
Ngannou, who has garnered significant attention in professional boxing, holds a record of 0-2, with his debut being a narrow decision loss to Tyson Fury, followed by a bout with Anthony Joshua. Despite these outcomes, Ngannou’s drawing power remains substantial.
The French-Cameroonian athlete has also made waves in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), securing the Super Fight title and taking on a leadership role as chair of PFL Africa, in conjunction with PFL MENA/Europe through Helios Sports Entertainment.
For Chisora, whose last significant victory came against Carlos Takam in July 2018, this potential matchup represents more than just another bout – it symbolizes a chance to create a historic moment for African combat sports.
