Boxing News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Credit: David Berding-USA TODAY Sports

Francis Ngannou next fight: 3 opponent options for ‘The Predator’ including Deontay Wilder

Originally posted on Ringside Intel | By Jason Burgos | Last updated 3/14/24

The Francis Ngannou next fight news should come in the next few weeks, but until then we offer up three likely opponent options for the former UFC champ and recap his ugly loss to heavyweight superstar Anthony Joshua in March.

Who will Francis Ngannou next fight be against?

Now that Francis Ngannou is 0-2 in boxing, there is reason to believe a return to MMA is as strong as ever. That is why when the heavyweight star does make his return — likely this summer — a PFL debut against Renan Ferreira, a rumored bout against Deontay Wilder, or a rematch against Tyson Fury is sure to happen next.

Problema: The Brazilian easily dispatched Ryan Bader in their PFL vs. Bellator main event fight. The winner was advertised to face Ngannou in his league debut. After his knockout loss to Joshua, returning to the cage seems logical for Ngannou’s return.
Bronze Bomber: Before Wilder’s shocking loss to Joseph Parker in December, a bout between the two seemed all but signed. With both coming off stunning defeats, maybe that idea is revised.
Rematch: If Fury is easily beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in May, the biggest money fight left for the heavyweight star would be a rematch with the man that nearly beat him in 2023.

Francis Ngannou vs. Anthony Joshua recap

Despite being considered a live underdog, “The Predator” was dominated by Joshua in their much-hyped bout in March. Sending a clear message that the Englishman is still one of the heaviest hitters in all of combat sports.

What happened: After nearly defeating the man considered the best heavyweight in the world, Ngannou only lasted a round and a half against Joshua. The former champion sent him crashing to the mat in the opening round, then scored two more knockdowns, including a fight-ending KO in the second frame.

The fallout: While the former UFC star still has a lot of respect in the boxing world, his performance showed that his lack of experience in the sport is still very much a liability and any fight he is in against an elite heavyweight with power will be trouble for him.

The roadmap: It will be interesting to see where Ngannou goes next because it is not at all clear. A return to MMA will probably deliver a much-needed victory and solid financial gain. But the bigger money opportunities will be in boxing. It really can go either way.

What makes Francis Ngannou so popular?

Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Ngannou built an impressive fight sports resume by being, arguably, the hardest puncher in MMA history. While he isn’t an overly technical fighter or a skilled grappler, he has a sound fight style that does everything it needs to so he can unleash his superhuman power and put opponents to sleep.

Let’s look at some other fascinating facts about the man known as “The Predator.”

Francis Ngannou record: 17-3 MMA (12 knockouts, 4 submissions), 0-2 Boxing
Francis Ngannou last fight: Split-decision loss to Tyson Fury
Francis Ngannou height: 6-foot-4
Ngannou won the UFC heavyweight title in a destructive second-round KO of division GOAT Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 in March 2021.
He has scored knockouts in 71% of his MMA fights.
Ngannou earned highlight-reel knockouts over UFC greats like Miocic, dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Alistair Overeem, and Andre Arlovski during his career.
While he isn’t known for his grappling he actually has four submission wins on his resume.
Ngannou is trained by elite MMA coach Eric Nicksick and Dewey Cooper at Las Vegas gym Xtreme Couture.

Francis Ngannou net worth

The measure of a fighter’s success is in dollars and cents stacked up from a career in professional fisticuffs. Following his big fight with Tyson Fury, Francis Ngannou’s net worth is believed to be $3 million.

This article first appeared on Ringside Intel and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: