Francis Ngannou confirms return to boxing and predicts 'somebody will go to sleep' if he books ideal opponent
02/15/2025 06:22 AM
Lineal UFC champion and PFL Super Fights champion Francis Ngannou isn’t done with boxing, as ‘The Predator’ reveals comeback plans are in order.
Ngannou left the UFC to pursue greener pastures in 2023 after a slew of contractual issues with the promotion. Despite discouragement from pundits and fans, the Cameroonian champion managed to figurehead one of the first Riyadh Season boxing events by fighting then-lineal heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury.
By all accounts, Ngannou gave Fury his toughest fight in many years, knocking down ‘The Gypsy King’ and stealing a scorecard from one of the judges. His hubris would be his undoing, however, as a confident Ngannou was knocked out cold by Anthony Joshua in his following fight.
Now having won the PFL championship, Ngannou is still keen on making a boxing return, and plans to secure the first knockout of his professional boxing career.
‘I know I hit harder’ … Francis Ngannou names Deontay Wilder as ideal opponent
Speaking to Sportsbook Review, Ngannou admitted there is an element of ego coming into play with his targetted opponent, Deontay Wilder.
‘The Bronze Bomber’ is 1-4 in his last five fights, but at one point was one of the most feared one-hitter-quitters on the heavyweight roster. While not the most technically procifient fighter, Wilder possesses a 97.7 percent finishing rate in 43 victories, making him one of the hardest punchers in boxing history.
Despite this, Ngannou thinks he hits harder.
“[Against Wilder] there’s an 80 percent chance that somebody will go to sleep,” Ngannou said. “Deontay Wilder is known as a guy that knocks everybody out . . . I myself can knock someone out. Deep inside me there is a little bit of ego, like I know I hit harder.”
Ngannou maintains a near 100 percent finish rate in MMA, with just one decision win in 18 professional victories. This decision came against Ciryl Gane in Ngannou’s UFC heavyweight title defense in 2022; Here, Ngannou fought with a ruptured MCL and damaged ACL.
Francis Ngannou branded ‘baddest’ man over Jon Jones by former opponent
As for Ngannou’s time in MMA, the biggest fight for him is still UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The stars didn’t line up for Ngannou-Jones in the UFC as Ngannou disputed his contract with the UFC, asking for more leniency on boxing while under contract and better representation at fighter meetings.
In the mean time, Jones avoided Ngannou during the transition from light heavyweight to heavyweight. ‘Bones’ coincidentally made his heavyweight debut shortly after Ngannou departed the promotion. Now, the only chance of this super fight happening is cooperation between the UFC and PFL.
This hasn’t stopped other UFC heavyweights from regarding Ngannou as the ‘baddest man on the planet’, much to Jones’ disgust. Former heavyweight great Stipe Miocic picked Ngannou as the baddest over Jones during an interview with The Schmo in February.
“I would go Francis [as the baddest] just because he’s doing great with his boxing, I would go with Francis.”
Responding to Miocic’s comments on Instagram, Jones remarked, “Of course.” Miocic has been knocked out by Jones and Ngannou, with the Jones defeat coming recently at UFC 309 in 2024.
