Ngannou Sets His Sights On Boxing Klitschko

Francis Ngannou has named Wladimir Klitschko as a potential opponent for his next fight. 

Ngannou’s comments were made after recent reports that Klitschko could make a comeback. He was linked with a Daniel Dubois fight, which would have given him a title shot. There were suggestions that Klitschko wanted to break the record for being the oldest heavyweight champion. That is held by George Foreman, who became heavyweight champion at 45. But that fight never happened, as Dubois will face Joseph Parker on February 22. Klitschko has not boxed since getting stopped by Anthony Joshua.

That was his second loss in a row after Tyson Fury beat him. Ngannou has boxed twice in his career. He suffered defeats to Fury and Joshua. But he returned to winning ways when he defeated Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut. But there are not many big MMA fights out there for him. The biggest fight out there for Ngannou is against Jon Jones. But Dana White has ruled out a co-promotion with the PFL, meaning the fight cannot happen. That has led Ngannou to turn his attention to Klitschko. 

“Wladimir Klitschko could be an option,” Ngannou said 

Ngannou also has other options. He recently said he wanted to take on Deontay Wilder. The latter’s fight against Curtis Harper in April was called off, leaving Wilder in search of an opponent. The Bronze Bomber only has one win in his last four bouts since working with Malik Scott. He has losses to Fury, Josepher Parker and Zhilei Zhang during this period. Wilder was previously linked with an Ngannou fight.

Other Options

Reports indicated there were talks over a two-fight deal: one in boxing and the other in MMA. It offers both fighters the chance to earn another big purse in a fight where either fighter could stop the other.  It never happened, as Ngannou boxed Fury. But The Predator is now keen to make it happen. Wilder is no longer tied to PBC, meaning he has more leverage over his next move. 

“I will do boxing next. I want to. I’m not done with boxing. It’s not that MMA is easy. It’s the sport that I understand better and I have more experience in, but I say go for boxing. [I’m passionate about fighting Deontay Wilder] because there’s an 80 percent chance that somebody will go to sleep. It will be one or the other.

“Maybe not in his past two fights, but Deontay Wilder is known as a guy that knocks everybody out or tries to knock you out. I’m going against that guy, and I myself can knock someone out. Deep inside me there is a little bit of ego, like I know I hit harder.Who is the biggest hitter between you and Deontay? Those sorts of conversations are popping around a little bit and even though you think you don’t care about it, it sticks somewhere in your mind,” Ngannou stated 

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