In the compelling universe of combat sports, the name Francis Ngannou has been making waves for quite some time now. Known for his knockout power, the heavyweight champion of the UFC recently voiced a bold claim that got the boxing world buzzing, “I’d fight Deontay Wilder.”
In a recent interview, Ngannou distinctly outlined his eagerness and readiness to step into the boxing ring, illustrating his willingness to compete against seasoned boxers such as former WBC Heavyweight Champion, Deontay Wilder. Not only has he declared an interest in this potential fight, but Ngannou also definitively affirmed his future return to boxing. “Will be back in boxing,” he avowed during the interview.
Born and raised in Cameroon, Francis Ngannou had an elementary-yet-profound passion for boxing, inspired by Mike Tyson. Despite his professional debut and ultimate glory in the UFC, his love for boxing has remained unabated. His Rotterdam sparring sessions in 2014 exhibited his boxing abilities, signifying an undeniable promise and potential in the sport just as much as he has shown time and again in the UFC.
Wilder, on the other hand, isn’t a stranger to the boxing ring. He’s incredibly well known for his annihilating punches, having won 41 fights out of his 44 professional boxing matches with a signature knockout. The thought of Ngannou and Wilder facing off in the ring is a tantalizing prospect for the fans due to the similar aggressive and powerful styles they both employ. No matter who would win between these two giants, the fight is guaranteed to be entertaining and electric.
Naturally, transitioning to boxing won’t be easy for “The Predator” – Ngannou. Despite his raw power and potential, the pugilistic sport requires a different set of skills and tactics. To box against a seasoned professional such as Deontay Wilder, Ngannou will have to hone his glovesmanship, footwork, and boxing defense. He’ll also have to adapt to a different fighting rhythm compared to the MMA fights he’s currently dominating.
In return, Wilder’s camp has also shown some interest in this potential bout, recognizing the attraction it would generate. They, however, caution that Ngannou should gain more boxing experience before considering such a high-stakes match.
The enigma of Ngannou’s boxing aspirations while holding the top belt in UFC’s Heavyweight division keeps mixed martial arts and boxing fans alike at the edge of their seats. If and when this clash happens, it would be a monumental event, juxtaposing not just two of the strongest punchers from their respective sports, but also pitting MMA against boxing in an intriguing test of skills and endurance. In the meantime, what the future holds for Ngannou is left to speculation – a tantalizing one that keeps the combat sport world intrigued.
Ngannou’s potential transition also raises questions about the blurring boundaries between MMA and boxing. Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed several cross-disciplinary fights, suggesting that the path between these two styles of combat sports is more porous than ever before. As these combat sports continue to converge, what, one wonders, will be the foreseeable future of the boxing and MMA scenes? Regardless of what happens, the eagerness of combat sports fans to witness Ngannou, the UFC’s reigning Heavyweight Champion, go toe-to-toe with Deontay Wilder, a boxing heavyweight, is palpable and undoubtedly, irresistible.
