Francis Ngannou, the formidable UFC and PFL Super Fights champion, is gearing up for a return to boxing. Known as 'The Predator,' Ngannou has expressed his intention to make a significant impact in the boxing world, aiming to secure his first professional knockout. Despite facing setbacks, including a loss to Anthony Joshua, Ngannou remains undeterred and has set his sights on Deontay Wilder, a former heavyweight champion renowned for his powerful punches. Ngannou believes he can outmatch Wilder's punching power and aims to prove his dominance in the ring.

Ngannou's journey into boxing began after he left the UFC in 2023 due to contractual disputes. He made waves by participating in one of the inaugural Riyadh Season boxing events, where he faced off against Tyson Fury, then the lineal heavyweight champion. The bout was a grueling affair, with Ngannou managing to knock down Fury and even winning over one judge's scorecard. However, Ngannou's confidence may have led to his downfall when he was knocked out by Joshua in his next fight. Now, with the PFL championship under his belt, Ngannou is eager to re-enter the boxing ring and establish himself as a force to be reckoned with.

In an interview with Sportsbook Review, Ngannou revealed that his choice of opponent, Deontay Wilder, is partly driven by ego. Wilder, once a dominant figure in heavyweight boxing, has struggled in recent years, with only one win in his last five fights. Despite this, Wilder boasts an impressive finishing rate of 97.7 percent in his victories, making him one of the hardest punchers in boxing history. Ngannou, however, believes he possesses superior punching power and estimates an 80 percent chance of someone being knocked out in their potential match. His confidence stems from his near-perfect finish rate in MMA, where he has secured all but one of his 18 professional wins by knockout or submission.

Ngannou's transition from MMA to boxing has not gone unnoticed. In MMA, he was often considered one of the sport's elite fighters, and his departure from the UFC left a significant void. The highly anticipated matchup between Ngannou and Jon Jones, the current UFC heavyweight champion, never materialized due to contractual issues. While Jones avoided Ngannou during his transition to heavyweight, other UFC heavyweights have praised Ngannou as the "baddest man on the planet." Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic even chose Ngannou over Jones in a recent interview, highlighting his admiration for Ngannou's accomplishments in both MMA and boxing.

Ngannou's pursuit of a boxing comeback reflects his determination to succeed across multiple combat sports. With his eyes set on a high-profile match against Wilder, Ngannou aims to showcase his prowess and validate his claims of hitting harder than any opponent. As he prepares for this next chapter in his career, Ngannou's ambition and resilience continue to define him as a formidable athlete in both MMA and boxing.