Francis Ngannou is pursuing one other excessive profile bout within the boxing ring.
‘The Predator’ returned to blended martial arts in October after a two-fight sojourn to the candy science, defeating Renan Ferreira by first-round TKO in what was debut combat for the PFL that topped its ‘Battle of the Giants’ combat card in Saudi Arabia on October 19. The combat returned the Cameroonian powerhouse to the win column after boxing defeats to Tyson Fury (narrowly) and Anthony Joshua (comprehensively).
However regardless of a 0-2 report within the sport, Ngannou needs to pursue his first win in a battle that might pit two of the toughest punchers of their respective sports activities on a direct collision course.
“I’ll do boxing subsequent,” Ngannou confirmed to Sportsbook Review, as famous by The Mirror, including that his need to make this explicit matchup a actuality is as a result of “there’s an 80 p.c likelihood that anyone will fall asleep.”
He mentioned: “Will probably be one or the opposite. Possibly not in his previous two fights, however Deontay Wilder is called a man that knocks all people out or tries to knock you out.
“I’m going in opposition to that man, and I actually can knock somebody out. Deep inside me there’s a little little bit of ego, like I do know I hit tougher. I’m saying from my expertise that we are going to have that ego that we each need to show ‘no, it’s me [who hits harder]. Who’s the most important hitter between you and Deontay? These kinds of conversations are popping round a little bit bit and regardless that you assume you don’t care about it, it sticks someplace in your thoughts.”
Former WBC champion Wilder has on quite a few events indicated that he could be serious about preventing Ngannou, saying final yr: “Even since I’ve been off, there’s been quite a lot of provides coming in, quite a lot of completely different international locations. Even with Francis.”
As for if and when, loads would require arranging earlier than a bout between Ngannou and Wilder turns into a actuality. PFL head Donn Davis mentioned in current weeks that he expects Ngannou to combat twice in 2025, as soon as in boxing and as soon as in MMA.
“We’re engaged on choices,” he informed Sky Sports. “I feel Deontay Wilder is one which we’ve talked about, that he has talked about. Some kind of blended guidelines or alternating rounds or simply taking one facet away from MMA guidelines. I feel Deontay Wilder is especially fascinating however you need to get the followers to know it and it’s a legit sport.”
