Renowned for his knockout prowess, Deontay Wilder is contemplating a showdown with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. This potential face-off has been generating considerable buzz in the combat sports world, but it comes with a condition.
Wilder is currently preparing for his upcoming bout against Joseph Parker on December 23. The match will be a part of the Day of Reckoning doubleheader featuring Anthony Joshua versus Otto Wallin.
Wilder recently addressed the rumors circulating about a poatential matchup with Ngannou. In an interview with Lucky Block, he expressed his willingness to step into PFL Smart Cage. However, Wilder emphasized the need for clarity on the proposed ‘mixed rules’ governing the fight.
He said “I’d have to hear more about these ‘mixed rules’. I wouldn’t mind fighting in the octagon and stuff, but I’d have to understand how the mixed rules are distributed.What do they mean ‘mixed rules’? What can and can’t we do?”
“But I know for sure – one fight in boxing and then one MMA fight – the rules are what they are. We’ve got rules in boxing, we’ve got rules in mixed martial arts. But when you’re mixing both together now you have to come up with your own rules and it can get kind of frustrating or confusing. But it could be something that’s new and I’m all about change. I’d need to hear it, both parties would need to hear it, and go from there.”
In October, Francis Ngannou made his boxing debut as a professional. He competed against Tyson Fury, the current WBC heavyweight champion.
Fans of the bout gave Ngannou little chance to survive the competition, much less go the whole distance. However, the Cameroonian surprised everyone when he not only outlasted the world’s best boxer for 12 rounds but also knocked Fury out in the third round.
This standout performance propelled Ngannou to the tenth spot in the WBC heavyweight rankings, prompting widespread intrigue in testing his mettle within the boxing arena.
Since then, Ngannou’s performance has propelled him to No. 10 in the WBC heavyweight rankings. Also, the division is eager to see how the mixed martial arts star handles the next boxer.
While no official announcements have surfaced, Deontay Wilder emerges as the prime contender for Francis Ngannou’s next opponent. Whether within the confines of a cage or the traditional ring, Wilder stands as a formidable potential challenger for the MMA icon.