After having more than defended himself in the ring against Tyson Fury, a new “hybrid” fight in the pipeline for Francis Ngannou? The Cameroonian fighter, defeated but released with honors from his fight against Fury on Saturday in Saudi Arabia, told the show “The MMA Hour” by American journalist Ariel Helwani that discussions were underway for him to face another boxing juggernaut, but this time in the octagon for an MMA fight: the “Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder.
“I think it’s a good idea,” he reacted to the journalist’s mention of this potential fight. Besides, we talked about it, it was under discussion. This is something that can potentially happen. Deontay Wilder has been training MMA for a few months now. Nothing has been decided, it’s an option, but we are discussing it. »
Francis tells @arielhelwani that he has heard that Deontay Wilder has been training MMA for the last couple of months now
Francis also “thinks it’s a good idea” for him to face Wilder next in MMA and that it’s “been in the discussion” ????
via The MMA Hour pic.twitter.com/Sgms7CfepO
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) October 30, 2023
Under contract with the PFL (the Professional Fighters League, one of the American mixed martial arts leagues competing with the UFC), Ngannou is preparing a return to the cage for 2024. PFL co-founder Donn Davis, still approved in the show “The MMA Hour” the idea of a match-up between the Cameroonian and Wilder.
“You know what I think would be fascinating? Deontay Wilder in a mixed rules fight. I always say: what do I want to see? I know boxing and MMA well, but I’m not a scholar. So I like to test things based on what millions of people would like to see. I think it’s the most interesting thing we could all see.” If the League will bow to the decisions of its golden goose and the feasibility of the fight, Davis believes that “it would be a crazy fight.”
Ngannou (20 fights, 17 victories including 12 by KO) like Wilder (46 fights, 43 victories including 42 before the limit) have a track record and an impressive reputation in their respective disciplines, MMA and English boxing.
