Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is eyeing a return to the boxing ring, and he has a specific opponent in mind – Deontay Wilder. Following his recent setback against Anthony Joshua in March 2024, Ngannou remains undeterred in his pursuit of boxing excellence.
The Cameroonian powerhouse, who now holds the PFL heavyweight championship, has expressed particular interest in facing Wilder, citing his confidence in his own striking power.
“(I’m passionate about boxing Deontay Wilder) because there’s an 80% chance that somebody will go to sleep. It will be one or the other deep inside me there is a little bit of ego, like I know I hit harder,” Ngannou told Sportsbook Review.
Both athletes are renowned for their knockout power, though Wilder, 39, has faced recent challenges, including losses to Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker, and Zhilei Zhang. While reports earlier this year suggested Wilder might retire, a matchup with Ngannou could prove financially attractive enough to bring him back.
Ngannou’s boxing journey began impressively with a debut against Tyson Fury in October 2023, where he exceeded expectations by dropping Fury in the third round and lasting the full 10 rounds, ultimately losing a close split decision.
His subsequent bout with Anthony Joshua in March 2024 ended in the second round. After that match, Ngannou reported feeling unusually disoriented, particularly after a first-round knockdown that he felt shouldn’t have affected him so significantly.
Joshua, following their encounter, encouraged Ngannou to continue in boxing, stating, “When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury, I thought I want some of that. (Ngannou) is a great champion and this doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities. I told him not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he fought the best.”
Should the Wilder bout not materialize, Ngannou remains open to other opportunities, including potential matches with Rico Verhoeven, Derek Chisora, and even Wladimir Klitschko. He also hasn’t ruled out a rematch with Fury, saying, “I don’t know if I’ll get a rematch with Fury, but I hope so. I never expected to win by decision.”
