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Francis Ngannou, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) heavyweight champion, has set his sights on a potential blockbuster showdown with former WBC heavyweight titleholder Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder.
In an interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani on Tuesday, Ngannou revealed that discussions are underway to stage the fight before the end of the year. The Cameroonian powerhouse, however, acknowledged that he is also preparing for a return to mixed martial arts, though no opponent has been confirmed.
“There’s nothing yet, I don’t think they have an opening for me, so we will wait [for an MMA return],” Ngannou said. “We still have time. Meanwhile, we’re trying on the Deontay Wilder fight. We are setting some things up, but I keep training. I’m training.”
Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, crossed into professional boxing in 2023, where he famously dropped Tyson Fury in his debut but lost via split decision. His second outing ended in disappointment when he was knocked out by Anthony Joshua in 2024. That left his boxing record at 0-2, despite showing flashes of power that mirror his reputation in MMA.
A clash with Wilder would pit two of the sport’s most feared punchers against each other. Wilder, 44-4-1 with 43 knockouts, is considered one of boxing’s deadliest finishers. Ngannou, meanwhile, holds an 18-3 MMA record alongside his boxing setbacks.
While the bout is yet to be finalized, there has been speculation that it could take place under hybrid rules combining elements of boxing and MMA—an experiment that would add intrigue to an already high-voltage matchup.
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