Featured Columnist IVNovember 11, 2024
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Deontay Wilder is keen to debate a proposed battle with Francis Ngannou after recuperating from a shoulder harm.
Wilder informed TMZ Sports that is a “dialog I am nonetheless trying to get within the combine and speak about it.” He added that “there’s been a variety of gives coming in” on the whole.
A battle between “The Bronze Bomber” and Ngannou has been thrown round for greater than a 12 months now. Wilder floated the idea of a two-fight deal in February 2023 in order that they may cross paths below boxing and MMA guidelines.
After Wilder misplaced to Joseph Parker final December, Ngannou made it clear he nonetheless wished the previous WBC heavyweight champion:
Francis Ngannou @francis_ngannou
Licking my lips after watching this battle 😋🍽️ @RiyadhSeason #BattleOfTheBaddest
Extra not too long ago, he informed Lewis Thompson of talkSPORT in August that he “would love that battle.”
“It is a battle that I need, I at all times wished that battle,” Ngannou mentioned. “In some unspecified time in the future we had a dialogue that did not go too far, however we wished to make this battle occur.”
The PFL star specified he’d solely wish to field towards Wilder as a result of “that is the place we each stand an opportunity.”
By way of the field workplace potential, this matchup most likely is not what it will’ve been a 12 months or two in the past.
Wilder has dropped 4 of his final 5 fights, most not too long ago struggling a fifth-round TKO by the hands of Zhilei Zhang. Ngannou, in the meantime, was knocked out within the second spherical by Anthony Joshua this previous March, and it does not appear to be that was as much of a moneymaker as his 2023 bout with Tyson Fury.
Nonetheless, each fighters stay notable names in fight sports activities and stand to realize loads from headlining a significant card.
