TRENDING: ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, set to take on Anthony Joshua; but is open to a future matchup with Deontay Wilder.

Although Francis Ngannou has Anthony Joshua on the calendar for next month, he is focused on a potential fight with Deontay Wilder. With a smooth transition to the professional ranks, Ngannou defeated WBC champion Anthony Crolla in their non-title fight in October and had a memorable debut against Tyson Fury. Joshua had originally targeted Wilder as his opponent, but Ngannou was able to step in after Wilder’s recent defeat to Joseph Parker.

Ngannou declared that he was looking forward to fighting Wilder again and said, “Wilder better get it together because I’m not done; I want that name on my record.” Ngannou is wary of Wilder despite his previous losses even though he recognizes the fighter’s immense strength—42 of his 43 victories have come via knockout.

Considering the dynamic environment of the sport, Ngannou mentioned discussions about fighting Wilder in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) just two months ago, highlighting the unpredictability of the boxing world.

Having initially gained recognition in MMA, Ngannou became the UFC heavyweight champion in 2021. After parting ways with the UFC and joining the PFL, he has yet to compete in the promotion. At 37 years old, Ngannou is shifting his focus to lucrative matchups in boxing, emphasizing that his current trajectory is centered around his boxing career rather than MMA.