Francis Ngannou wants Deontay Wilder for his next boxing match

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has made it clear that he is eager to get back into the boxing ring, with Deontay Wilder being his main target.

As Ngannou prepares for his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut against Renan Ferreira on October 19, he has been vocal about his desire to take on some of the biggest names in boxing.

Ngannou's last foray into boxing was in October 2023, when he shocked the world by knocking down Tyson Fury during their fight, although he ultimately lost via split decision. This impressive performance raised high expectations for his boxing career, even though his subsequent fight against Anthony Joshua in March ended in a second-round knockout, marking his first loss in the sport.

Francis Ngannou challenges Deontay Wilder

The Predator is ready to return to boxing

Undeterred by the setback, Ngannou has expressed a keen interest in facing Wilder. In a recent interview with TalkSport, he stressed that a boxing match against Wilder would be a fair contest, unlike an MMA fight, where Ngannou believes he has a clear advantage. “Absolutely, I would love that fight,” Ngannou explained. “Pure boxing, make no mistake about it. We both have a chance.”

Ngannou's ambitions are not limited to Wilder. He has also mentioned the possibility of future fights against other top fighters, including Oleksandr Usyk and a rematch against Fury. However, he remains focused on his upcoming PFL fight, which he sees as a crucial step to keep his momentum going and remind fans of his tremendous power in the combat sport.

As for Wilder, the former WBC heavyweight champion has also shown interest in a potential fight with Ngannou. Wilder, known for his devastating knockout power, could pose a huge challenge to Ngannou, making the fight an exciting prospect for boxing fans worldwide.

Wilder and Ngannou need a win

Both fighters have suffered recent losses, and a fight between them could be a turning point in their careers. The possibility of this clash adds another layer of intrigue to Ngannou's developing combat sports career as he looks to continue to balance his boxing and MMA ambitions.

Wilder has remained tight-lipped about his future as a fighter, but made it clear that he has no interest in moving to bridgerweight after being offered a title shot.

The martial arts community is eagerly awaiting further developments, as a showdown between Ngannou and Wilder would undoubtedly be a blockbuster event.