Deontay Wilder Says Francis Ngannou’s Performance Against Tyson Fury Made Their Fight Bigger

Deontay Wilder believes his potential fight against Francis Ngannou is that much bigger after the former UFC champ’s performance against Tyson Fury.

Ngannou made his pro boxing debut against Fury back in October and it was ‘The Gypsy King’ who won by split decision in a very competitive fight. However, Wilder says the plan was for him and Ngannou to box first.

“Me and Francis were supposed to fight first [before Fury] but because of different circumstances it didn’t happen, but it’s cool because it was better for him to go and participate in a boxing match. It’s made it bigger and better for him because he’s made a name for himself in boxing to the point it’s getting people excited about a fight with the likes of me,” Wilder told Lucky Block.

Although the two didn’t fight first, there have been talks of Deontay Wilder and Francis Ngannou having a mixed rules fight, which he is interested in.

“I’d have to hear more about these ‘mixed rules’. I wouldn’t mind fighting in the octagon and stuff, but I’d have to understand how the mixed rules are distributed. What do they mean ‘mixed rules’? What can and can’t we do? But I know for sure – one fight in boxing and then one MMA fight – the rules are what they are,” Wilder said. “We’ve got rules in boxing, we’ve got rules in mixed martial arts. But when you’re mixing both together now you have to come up with your own rules and it can get kind of frustrating or confusing. But it could be something that’s new and I’m all about change. I’d need to hear it, both parties would need to hear it, and go from there.”

But, before any of that can happen, Wilder will need to box Joseph Parker on Dec. 23.