Deontay Wilder shares encouraging update on potential showdown with Francis Ngannou in MMA or boxing
04/01/2025 08:54 PM
Former heavyweight boxing champion Deontay Wilder believes a Francis Ngannou fight announcement is looming.
Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou‘s post-UFC ventures have been a mixed bag since parting ways with the promotion in 2023. After a tumultuous contract dispute with Dana White and the UFC brass, Ngannou was granted his release, pursuing boxing matches with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Losses to Fury and Joshua left Ngannou empty-handed in his pursuit of a professional boxing victory. But he returned to the win column in his MMA comeback fight, defeating 2023 PFL titleholder Renan Ferreira last year.
Ngannou eyes a return to boxing later in 2025 as he looks to make a statement in his third appearance in the ring. At the top of Ngannou’s hit-list is Deontay Wilder, who has expressed mutual interest in facing Ngannou in either MMA or boxing.
Deontay Wilder hints at looming Francis Ngannou fight booking
While the Ngannou vs. Wilder fight saga continues, Wilder made some interesting remarks about a potential fight with the former UFC star, hinting at a second fight already booked for December after his upcoming fight with Tyrrell Herndon on June 27th in Wichita, Kansas.
In a recent interview on the ARIEL X ADE show, Wilder raised eyebrows when asked if the Ngannou fight is in play for later in 2025.
“Me and Francis, that fight, it still comes up. It came up two more times not too long ago,” Wilder said of Ngannou. “We’re just trying to figure out how we want the segment to go with me and Ngannou. I’m definitely interested, he is as well. I guess it’s just a matter of… a time.
“It’s looking to be done, but it’s just all of the details and stuff like that. I’m looking forward to that one, so stay tuned.”
First thing’s first for Wilder as he looks to return to the win column against Herndon in June. Wilder has lost four of his last five fights, including a brutal knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang in his most recent fight last summer.
PFL offered Jon Jones $50 million for a Francis Ngannou cross-promotion fight
Ngannou’s targeted boxing return comes after PFL founder Donn Davis offered Jon Jones $50 million to fight Ngannou in the PFL SmartCage. Jones is in active negotiations to fight Tom Aspinall later this year to unify the UFC heavyweight titles.
Jones vs. Ngannou was discussed after Ngannou won the UFC heavyweight title in 2021 by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. But the parties couldn’t agree on a deal, and White blames Ngannou for the Jones fight not coming to fruition.
Jones and Ngannou remain mutually interested in making the super heavyweight showdown come to fruition. But amidst White and Ngannou’s strained relationship, it isn’t likely to come to fruition unless Jones parts ways with the UFC.
