Deontay Wilderis gearing up for his highly-anticipated return to the boxing ring. After his knockout victory over Robert Helenius last Fall, Wilder has been eagerly seeking his next opponent. While he has been linked to potential bouts against boxing stars Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr., those matchups have yet to materialize.
In light of the stalled negotiations with other boxers, Deontay Wilder has turned his attention towards an intriguing possibility—taking on Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou, also known as ‘The Predator,’ recently signed with the PFL in April, after parting ways with the UFC due to various management issues and his desire to explore boxing. Initially, Ngannou had been vocal about his interest in facing Tyson Fury. However, it now seems that Wilder is emerging as the favored opponent for Ngannou’s boxing venture.
During a recent interview with The Schmo, Deontay Wilder openly discussed the potential showdown with the former UFC champion. He confirmed his willingness to face Francis Ngannou, not only in a boxing match but also inside the PFL cage. While Wilder previously hinted that the bout might not take place until 2024, he expressed hope that it could happen sooner.
“He knows what the deal is. Francis you hit me, you know what’s up,” Deontay Wilder stated when asked about Francis Ngannou.
“But yeah, I was at the PFL to enjoy some fighting, to shake a couple of hands with a couple of people, and talk business as well. Francis is one of those names that definitely came up, and keeps coming up.”
“Hopefully we can get something on the schedule in the near future that we can present to the people and make this fight become a reality.”
Both heavyweights have previously mentioned the possibility of a two-bout deal, with one bout taking place in MMA and the other in boxing. This arrangement has captured the attention of MMA fans, who eagerly anticipate the clash between these two powerhouses.