Francis Ngannou has made perhaps the highest-profile entry into boxing in the history of the sport.
The former UFC Heavyweight Champion made the decision to move on from that organisation, signing an MMA deal with the Professional Fighters League and, at the same time, pursuing some mega-money bouts in boxing.
He got just that when he challenged current WBC Champion Tyson Fury. The pair faced off in Riyadh in October, and Ngannou shocked the world when he dropped ‘The Gypsy King’ in the third round. He battled to a split decision loss, one he considers a robbery.
Despite the loss, the 37-year-old’s performance landed him a fight with two-time world champion Anthony Joshua on March 8. Should he win, it’s been made clear that he will get a crack at the winner of Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title.
Despite that, it’s another man Ngannou has his eyes on. Speaking to Sky Sports MMA Club, Ngannou confirmed that he still wants Deontay Wilder in the future.
“I’m here for the boxing career and there I have a lot of challenges, a lot of names. For example, the top three guys that I’ve always had are Fury, Joshua and Wilder. Wilder better get it together because I’m not done, I want that name on my record.”
At one stage recently, the fight would have been an easy sell. The two hardest hitters in combat sports facing off in a shootout. However, Wilder recently looked well below par in his distance loss to Joseph Parker, ruining plans for a fight against Joshua and leaving some suggesting retirement.