Deontay Wilder has confirmed he will fight on following back-to-back losses in Saudi Arabia.
The heavy hitter from Alabama was beaten soundly on points by Joseph Parker before being stopped inside five rounds by Zhilei Zhang. It left many calling for him to retire at the age of 39.
Wilder, a former long-reigning WBC Champion who has scored 42 knockouts from 43 wins, recently saw a comeback bout against journeyman Curtis Harper scrapped, but still has ambitions for big fights in 2025.
One possibility is MMA star Francis Ngannou. The Cameroonian-French fighter has had just two boxing matches, though both extremely high profile. He faced Tyson Fury in his debut, knocking the Brit down but losing by split decision in the end.
Anthony Joshua made quick work of Ngannou in two rounds before he returned to MMA, but the 38-year-old recently confirmed to Sportsbook Review that his boxing days are not done, and listed Wilder as the target.
“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. 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.”
“I’m saying from my experience that we will have that ego that we both want to prove ‘no, it’s me [who hits harder].’ Who is the biggest hitter between you and Deontay? Those sorts of conversations are popping around a little bit and even though you think you don’t care about it, it sticks somewhere in your mind.”
As for how realistic the fight is, Ngannou – who has recorded record-breaking power and has a stellar highlight reel of his own – said Riyad Season’s Turki Alalshikh, the man behind his first two bouts, had mentioned ‘The Bronze Bomber’ specifically, as well as a highly-anticipated mixed martial arts clash against the UFC’s Jon Jones.
“We didn’t have that opportunity [to plan my future] but we exchanged words obviously about that. Turki Alalshikh said he was working on something big for me this year. He said we have to do something big – either Jon Jones or Wilder. That’s what he told me personally.”
