Considering the fact that he has yet to win a bout inside the squared circle, it seems odd to come to the conclusion that Francis Ngannou is probably one of the biggest names in the sport in boxing...yet here we are.
The former UFC heavyweight champion, who finally got around to making his debut inside the PFL smartcage in October, recently shared his plans to return to the boxing ring.
In his announcement, Ngannou also floated the idea of facing former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. If that match comes to fruition, it would pit two of the hardest hitters in combat sports history against each other. However, UFC color commentator Daniel Cormier isn’t entirely sold on this decision, especially after Ngannou’s previous bout against Anthony Joshua ended in a crushing knockout defeat.
“There were people picking Francis to beat Joshua,” Cormier remarked on his YouTube channel. “I love Francis, but not to insult him, Anthony Joshua felt so less of a threat [from Ngannou] that he, traditionally one of the most passive boxers in the world for a heavyweight champion, went after Francis. He didn’t feel the threat because of the lack of experience that Francis had in boxing.”
Cormier continued, weighing the risks for Ngannou: “Sure, he’s going to make a boatload of money, he always does, but at what point do you go, ‘I don’t know’? Because if you ask me, it seems like he’s up against it again. Maybe he’s just the biggest, baddest man on the planet that we all believe, and he doesn’t care that he’s up against it. He wants to prove everyone wrong, like he did when he fought Tyson Fury, taking him to a very close fight. But we cannot ignore the visuals of what we saw the last time, especially when he came back to MMA and fought so well.”
"He Looked Lost Against Anthony Joshua"
Ngannou’s loss to Joshua led to his return to MMA, where he quickly dispensed of Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut. However, a potential clash with Wilder presents some daunting challenges.
“People don’t hurt Francis Ngannou, but when it happened in the [Anthony Joshua] fight, he looked lost,” Cormier observed. “That’s what’s concerning to me. Because I know there will be moments in that fight with Deontay Wilder, the way that he punches, where he’s going to need to find safety.”
While Wilder might not be known for his technical boxing skills, his career has been defined by his ability to end fights with his thunderous power. Still, Wilder is currently in the midst of a two-fight losing streak, with a 1-4 record in his last five bouts. Some are even speculating that the end of his career might be near. A matchup with Ngannou could potentially reignite Wilder’s drive, offering him a sizable payday against a fighter who is still relatively inexperienced in boxing. Cormier, who knows Wilder’s capabilities firsthand, is well aware of how dangerous the Alabama native can be when at his best.
