In the world of combat sports, Francis Ngannou has been making waves with his remarkable transition to professional boxing. After a close encounter with Tyson Fury in his debut bout last October, Ngannou is now set to face former unified champion Anthony Joshua next month. But despite his upcoming fight, the Cameroonian fighter has his sights set on another opponent – none other than Deontay Wilder.
Ngannou, at 37 years old, has quickly risen through the ranks of boxing. His impressive display against Fury caught the attention of the boxing world, and his upcoming clash with Joshua only adds to the anticipation. Joshua, who has been eyeing a fight with Wilder himself, now has the opportunity to test his skills against Ngannou after Wilder's unexpected defeat to Joseph Parker.
However, Ngannou's ambitions extend beyond his upcoming battles. He still desires a future confrontation with the former WBC champion. Speaking about his goals, Ngannou shared, '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.'
Despite Wilder's recent setbacks, it would be unwise to underestimate his power. With 42 of his 43 wins coming by way of knockout, Wilder still possesses a formidable presence in the boxing world. Ngannou recognizes this and refuses to discount him as a potential opponent, stating, 'Two months ago, we were talking about fighting Deontay Wilder in the PFL (Professional Fighters League). The landscape can change quick. Everything is possible.'
Before his foray into boxing, Ngannou made a name for himself in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Becoming the UFC heavyweight champion in 2021 by knocking out Stipe Miocic, Ngannou gained recognition as a formidable force. However, his split from the UFC led him to sign with the PFL, where he is yet to make his debut.
Now, Ngannou's focus has shifted towards the world of boxing, seeking big-money fights and new challenges in an alternative sport. Reflecting on his current career path, he emphasizes, 'It's a boxing career, it's not an MMA career now. We are here talking about my boxing career. In my MMA career, I got to the point that is everyone's dream. I was MMA champion. There are some great fights to do in MMA, but there's not a new challenge, something exciting in MMA.'
As Ngannou prepares to step into the ring against Joshua next month, the anticipation for his future fights, potentially including a clash with Wilder, continues to grow. The Cameroonian fighter's fearless mindset and determination make him an intriguing figure in the world of combat sports. Only time will tell how far Ngannou's boxing career will take him, but one thing is for certain – he is not done yet, and the name Deontay Wilder remains a target on his record.
