Former long-reigning WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has been called out for a showdown with who many consider to be the hardest puncher on the planet.
The 40-year-old from Alabama is gearing up to make his 50th ring appearance in the first quarter of 2026. as he sets his sights on pushing towards becoming a two-time world heavyweight champion.
Wilder made his long-awaited return to action on June 27 when he stopped countryman Tyrrell Herndon in the seventh round of their non-title bout at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, his first outing in just over one year.
Whilst he has been linked with a showdown with long-term rival Anthony Joshua, Wilder has actually been targeted for a match-up with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who in the past has been recorded as having the biggest punch in the world.
In an interview with New Betting Sites, Ngannou’s manager Dewey Cooper claimed that a clash between Wilder and the former UFC star ‘needs to happen’.
“The fight needs to happen because Deontay was a great champion. He’s known for knockouts and power. Francis has a similar reputation in MMA, remember the uppercut on Alistair Overeem. That punch was unforgettable.
“It’s the perfect clash: let’s see who hits harder, who can take more, who has the stronger mind. Deontay has a strong mind; Francis does, too, from everything he’s overcome. I’d love to see that clash in Las Vegas or Africa.”
Ngannou is no stranger to locking horns with some of the world’s best heavyweight boxers, having shared the ring with both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in the last several years.
The 39-year-old from Cameroon came very close to handing ‘The Gypsy King’ the first defeat of his career back in October 2023, dropping the Brit in the third round of their clash in Riyadh before suffering a split decision defeat.
Ngannou returned to the ring against Joshua just five months after his bout against Fury, although it would be a totally different outcome for the former UFC champion as he suffered a crushing second round knockout defeat to the two-time unified world champion.
