Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is gearing up for his next ring return and has revealed that he has had actual discussions with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.
The Cameroonian became a free agent after rejecting an $8 million multi bout deal that would’ve taken years.
He is now a free agent and targeting a $30 million purse in the boxing ring.
Ngannou has set his sights on heavyweight stars including Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.
Both boxers have expressed their interest in exchanging blows with the former UFC champion. Ngannou’s head coach Eric Nicksick has said that an outing against Wilder interests him the most.
“I’ve heard of Tyson Fury. I’ve heard of Andy Ruiz. I’ve heard all these different names kind of pop up. But the one that sounds like the most intriguing to Francis has been definitely the Wilder”
“So we’ll see how this transpires and what’s gonna happen, but I’m just glad to have him home and back in the gym.” Nicksick said.
Wilder attended the Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury boxing match in Saudi Arabia and was asked about a potential bout with Ngannou.
“That is a real discussion.”
Wilder went on to reveal:
“One maybe here [Saudi Arabia] and the other one in Africa.”
The Bronze Bomber is not done with boxing yet and returned to the squared circle last October after being inactive for a year. He viciously knocked out Robert Helenius in the first round.
Ngannou’s interest in Wilder is likely, in part, due to delays Fury is having negotiating a deal with Usyk. Fury was previously quoted saying the only two bouts he’s interested in were those two.
But the Fury outing has another facet – while Ngannou is a huge fan of boxing, Fury proposed a 4 ounce gloves exhibition that would be neither boxing nor MMA.