Francis Ngannou is considering outside the box as he searches for his next boxing opponent.
The previous UFC heavyweight champion famously dropped Tyson Fury in his October 2023 ring debut.
A controversial split decision defeat against ‘The Gypsy King’ was enough to earn him one other big boxing bout against Anthony Joshua, who ruthlessly knocked Ngannou out cold once they clashed in April 2024.
‘The Predator’ returned to MMA and won the PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship by quickly stopping Renan Ferreira in October – now he’s heading back to the squared circle in pursuit of a protracted overdue pro boxing win.
Francis Ngannou names boxing hit list
Deontay Wilder appears to be the frontrunner to face Ngannou after calling him out earlier this 12 months.
It could be a clash between two of the most important punchers on the planet that might surely end in a giant KO.
If that fight doesn’t come together, Ngannou is open to facing off against boxing legend Wladimir Klitschko.
The 48-year-old retired in 2017, but he’s recently been linked to a sensational return to the ring.
Ngannou thinks he might be the proper comeback opponent for Klitschko – but when that fight doesn’t occur, he’s also open to the opportunity of boxing perennial heavyweight contender Derek Chisora or kickboxing phenom Rico Verhoeven.
“I actually have a number of fights left,” the 38-year-old recently told Sportsbook Review.
“I give attention to only a few fights, not on options. There’s a variety of options. [Kickboxer] Rico Verhoeven could occur, but I don’t know. Rico is an option, Derek Chisora is an option, Wladimir Klitschko might be an option.
“I need a boxing fight next, I’d prefer a boxing fight next. I feel it’s also concerning the timing.”
Daniel Cormier expresses concern for Francis Ngannou
Not everyone desires to see Ngannou box again after watching him go 0-2 against the easiest.
In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, former dual-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier expressed concern for Ngannou amid rumors a few potential clash with Wilder.
“Sure, he’s going to make a boatload of cash, he at all times does, but at what point do you go [I don’t know] because in the event you ask me it could appear to be he’s up against it again,” the UFC Hall of Famer said.
“Perhaps he’s just the most important, baddest man on the planet that all of us imagine and he doesn’t care that he’s up against it and he desires to prove everyone fallacious like he did the primary time when he fought Tyson Fury and he fought him to a really close fight.
“But we cannot ignore the visuals of what we saw the last time, especially when he got here back to MMA and fought so well…
“People don’t hurt Francis Ngannou, but when it happened within the [Anthony Joshua] fight, he looked lost.
“That’s what’s concerning to me. Because I do know there will likely be moments in that fight with Deontay Wilder the way in which that he punches where he’s going to want to search out safety.”
