Francis Ngannou calls out Deontay Wilder for mouthwatering heavyweight fight
08/24/2024 06:48 AM
Francis Ngannou has teased a possible clash with Deontay Wilder ahead of his PFL debut against Renan Ferreira on October 19.
The former heavyweight champion is stepping into the octagon for the first time since he defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in California.
Ngannou’s bout against Brazil's Renan Ferreira comes nearly a year after he put on the boxing gloves for the first time against former WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury in October last year.
Ngannou knocked Fury down in the third round with a left hook and narrowly avoided defeat via split-decision, before being knocked out by Anthony Joshua five months later in only his second professional boxing match.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT ahead of the fight, Ngannou was asked about 'The Bronze Bomber' and if the clash could take place in the octagon.
"Absolutely. I would love that fight,” he said.
"Pure boxing, don't be delusional here. That's where we both stand a chance, but if we go MMA only one man stands a chance.
"It's a fight that I want, I always wanted that fight. At some point we had a discussion that didn’t go too far, but we wanted to make this fight happen."
Wilder was brutally knocked out by Zhilei Zhang in a stunning upset at the beginning of June in Saudi Arabia.
The fight headlined Eddie Hearn of Matchroom and Frank Warren of Queensberry’s five-versus-five card in Riyadh and shut the door on the American's hopes of a dream fight with Anthony Joshua anytime soon.
Ngannou was asked how he would feel about fighting Wilder before the latter, AJ and Fury had all combined.
"And even more boxers, [Oleksandr Usyk?] Why not everyone," he said.
"I have the Fury rematch then Deontay Wilder on the wish list.
"[Martin Bakole?] Not really. That is the fight I would choose as the last option because I see him more like a brother. I'd fight anyone else beside him, plus he's dangerous!"
Ferreira, Ngannou's opponent in October, is three years younger and certainly didn't lack stature when the pair faced off at PFL's Battle of the Giants press conference that took place on Thursday.
He has only lost three MMA fights out of a total 19 since his debut in December 2013.
Ngannou will be deemed the new PFL Super Fight Champion if he is victorious over Ferreira on October 19. UK audiences can watch the event live on DAZN from 6pm.
