The boxing world took notice when Francis Ngannou showed up well-prepared to face Tyson Fury on Saturday, knocking down the lineal heavyweight champ en route to a split decision loss that some are calling a robbery.
Regardless of the result — boxing might have worse judging than MMA, which is saying something — it’s clear that Ngannou has a future in the sweet science, if he wants it. Already, there is talk of “The Predator” being ranked among the heavyweight division, and a fight with Anthony Joshua has been floated. There’s another option on the table as well: a much-talked about crossover fight with Deontay Wilder. That’s one that PFL Founder Donn Davis would like to see, and he’s open to a mixed rules bout.
Wilder is one of the few boxing heavyweights to train in MMA, and has been open about trying his hand in the cage in the past. He even suggested a two-fight series with Ngannou at one point; a mixed rules fight, however, might be a little more competitive.
“I think the opponents in pure MMA are not that interesting right now. We’re just like the fans, we’re just like the fighters. We’re not like the other companies. ‘Let’s just do it because they’re our guys!’ There’s only one guy in MMA who is interesting right now for Francis Ngannou: Jon Jones. One guy,” Davis told The MMA Hour on Monday (h/t MMA Fighting). “Everybody says, what about Stipe? Maybe. Give him a half a point — 1.5 guys, who are compelling. I don’t want to say who could put on a good fight for him. There are three or four other guys who could put on a competitive fight for Francis. I’m not talking about a competitive fight, I’m saying compelling — 1.5 guys in MMA, in the world! And one is hurt for the next nine months, and the other one is under contract.
“We’re realists. So what is the best fight for our fighter, Francis Ngannou, his career, and fighting fans? That’s the fight we should make, and that’s the fight we’re going to be partners to make. So will he fight in MMA in 2024? Yes, he will. Will that be his next fight? I don’t know.”
When it comes to Wilder in particular, that’s when Donn Davis suggested a mixed rules contest.
“…what would I think would be fascinating? Deontay Wilder in a mixed rules fight. I always say, what do I want to see? I know a lot about boxing and a lot about MMA, but I’m not a savant. I’m not a deep, deep, deep insider. So I like to test, what do I think millions of people would love to see? I think that’s the most interesting thing we could all see.”
Ngannou is under contract with the PFL on the MMA side, after exiting the UFC earlier this year.
