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Francis Ngannou is ready to step back into the boxing ring. The former UFC heavyweight champion and current PFL Superfight titleholder has clarified that his next fight will be in the squared circle, signaling that his boxing journey is far from over.
“I will do boxing next,” Ngannou told Sportsbook Review. “I want to. I’m not done with boxing. It’s not that MMA is easy. It’s the sport that I understand better and I have more experience in, but I say go for boxing.”
Ngannou has plenty of options in both MMA and boxing, but his competitive fire is pushing him toward the latter. His recent return to MMA saw him make quick work of Renan Ferreira at PFL Battle of the Giants, his first fight since leaving the UFC. However, Ngannou’s transition to boxing has been a mixed bag. He nearly pulled off an upset against Tyson Fury in his pro boxing debut in October 2023, losing by split decision, but suffered a devastating knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in March 2024. Despite the setback, Ngannou remains determined to compete with the best in the heavyweight boxing division.
One name that intrigues Ngannou the most is former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. Known for his one-punch knockout power, Wilder presents an exciting and dangerous challenge—one that Ngannou is eager to embrace.
“Because there’s an 80 percent chance that somebody will go to sleep,” Ngannou said. “It will be one or the other.”
Ngannou acknowledges the risks but also sees the fight as an opportunity to prove he is one of the hardest hitters in combat sports. He believes both he and Wilder have something to prove, fueling a battle of egos that could result in an explosive finish.
“Maybe not in his past two fights, but Deontay Wilder is known as a guy that knocks everybody out or tries to knock you out,” Ngannou explained. “I’m going against that guy, and I myself can knock someone out. Deep inside me, there is a little bit of ego, like I know I hit harder.”
With Ngannou’s desire to continue boxing and Wilder in search of a high-profile fight, a showdown between the two knockout artists seems like an electrifying possibility.