(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Francis Ngannou Teases Boxing Showdown Talks with Deontay Wilder
Francis Ngannou has long expressed interest in stepping into the ring with former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder—and now, it seems the long-discussed matchup may finally be gaining momentum.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show this week, the former UFC heavyweight champion revealed that conversations are being lined up.
“We haven’t engaged personally, but it’s going to be soon,” Ngannou said. “We are setting some things up.”
Ngannou’s Journey from MMA to Boxing
Ngannou, 38, left the UFC in 2023 before signing with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). While he has since added the PFL heavyweight title to his résumé, much of his spotlight has come in boxing.
-
October 2023: Made his pro boxing debut against Tyson Fury, dropping the champion in the third round before narrowly losing a split decision.
-
March 2024: Suffered a knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua, who dropped him three times in just two rounds.
-
October 2024: Returned to MMA, stopping Renan Ferreira in the first round to win the PFL heavyweight title.
Despite personal tragedy in April 2024, when Ngannou lost his 15-month-old son, he has remained determined to continue his fighting career. His current MMA record stands at 18-3, with 17 victories coming by knockout or submission.
Wilder’s Heavyweight Legacy
Wilder, 44-4-1 (43 KOs), was once part of boxing’s “big three” alongside Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. His five-year reign as WBC heavyweight champion ended in 2020 when he fell to Fury in their rematch.
Since then, Wilder’s career has been a rollercoaster:
-
Lost again to Fury in their 2021 trilogy bout, a brutal contest that ended in the 11th round.
-
Returned in 2022 with a quick KO of Robert Helenius.
-
Struggled in 2023 and 2024, dropping decisions to Joseph Parker and suffering a knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang.
-
Most recently, Wilder bounced back in June 2025 with a seventh-round TKO victory over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon.
Could Ngannou vs. Wilder Happen Next?
Both men are at crucial stages of their careers. Ngannou has proven he can hang with boxing’s elite, while Wilder is looking to reestablish himself after setbacks in recent years.
If negotiations move forward, a potential clash between the two knockout artists would be one of the most explosive cross-sport matchups in combat sports.
