By Craig Daly: Deontay Wilder says he wants to face former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in two fights, one inside the boxing ring and another in an MMA contest.
The former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) states that he’d get a trainer from the mixed martial arts field to teach him what he needs to know to battle the 6’4″ Ngannou to provide the fans some entertainment.
Whether the 34-year-old Ngannou would be interested in facing Wilder is unknown, as he’s not one of the fighters he mentioned wanting to take on in the boxing world.
Ngannou has specifically called out British heavyweights Anthony Joshua & Tyson Fury and likely views those as his best opportunity to make a lot of money while at the same time making a big splash in boxing.
When Ngannou was asked if he’d be interested in fighting Wilder, he seemed less excited when talking about a fight against him than his interest in facing Joshua & Fury.
Both Joshua & Fury are interested in facing Ngannou, so it would seem Wilder will need to get in the back of the line before he gets an opportunity to face the former UFC champ.
It might not be worth it for Wilder to fight Ngannou if he gets destroyed by Fury or Joshua, as he’d have already been exposed and perhaps even humiliated by one or both.
The fact that Ngannou wants to jump straight into a fight with AJ and Fury suggests that this is just a money thing, and he’s not willing to slowly work his way up to that level.
In other words, Ngannou will come out throwing haymakers as he did in the UFC and hope that’s can land a lucky punch to KO Joshua or Fury. Those guys will likely dominate Ngannou with their jabs and never get hit with any of his wild right hands.
“I’d love to go to Africa for that. Let’s make it a two-fight deal. Everybody always comes to boxing, let’s do this – you come to my house, I’ll come to yours,” said Deontay Wilder to Trill Boxing Talk about his interest in fighting former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou twice.
“I don’t have mixed martial arts experience, but, of course, if that happens, I’m going to get training. I wouldn’t just go in not knowing nothing. If I do it, I’m going to really do full effort. I’m going to give the fans want to see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfzmSf56ekE&t=2s
“I’m going to give full effort because he’s going to be training for mine coming over where I am. Why wouldn’t I not train for what he do? I might like the s**t. I might crossover. This is my new home.
“For sure, I’ll get one of the best trainers out there. I’m sure I won’t have no problems getting trainers to come and work with me and do this. I like being different. You [Ngannou] come here, and I’ll go there. Win, lose, or draw; it would be a great event.
“I can see it being a beautiful thing, and I’m speaking from my heart,” said Wilder.