Ngannou Wants Wilder Next – ‘Somebody Will Go To Sleep’

Francis Ngannou says his next fight will be in boxing, as he targeted a fight with Deontay Wilder.

Ngannou has had two boxing bouts, losing both of them. He suffered a controversial split decision loss to Tyson Fury, with many believing he had done enough to win. Former world champion Carl Froch was very vocal, stating that Ngannou had been robbed of a win. He never got the chance to run things back with the rematch. However, he had the opportunity to redeem himself when he faced Anthony Joshua. But the latter knocked him out in the second round.

Ngannou switched his focus back to MMA as he made his PFL debut. He reminded everyone of his credentials by stopping Renan Ferreira in the first round. However, his next MMA fight is not clear. The PFL does not have many big-name heavyweights, while Dana White has ruled out a Jon Jones fight. Ngannou also earns more from boxing than MMA. Reports indicate he made $30 million from the Fury and Joshua fights combined. That is more than his entire MMA career. 

Facing Wilder could be a good opportunity. The latter is not in good form, having lost his last two bouts. He suffered defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang. Wilder only has one win from four fights since working with Malik Scott. His next fight was meant to take place in April against Curtis Harper. However, reports indicate that the fight will not go ahead, leaving Wilder searching for an opponent.

Ngannou On Wilder

That could pave the way for an Ngannou fight. They were previously linked with a two-fight deal. One of those would have been in boxing, while the other in MMA. But it never happened after Ngannou chose to face Fury. But now the circumstances have changed, with both men having lost their last two boxing bouts. Francis was ready to make it happen. 

“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% 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. I’m saying from my experience that we will have that ego that we both want to prove ‘no, it’s me [who hits 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 said 

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