Francis Ngannou vs Deontay Wilder: fight negotiations have begun.

Francis Ngannou plans to discuss next fight

According to The Sun: Francis Ngannou intends to negotiate his next fight, calling out Deontay Wilder to the ring.

Ngannou returned to the cage in October 2024, where he defeated Brazilian Renan Ferreira in the first round in Saudi Arabia.

This came after a two-year absence from the cage, during which Ngannou left the UFC to pursue boxing.

In his boxing debut in October 2023, he faced Tyson Fury but lost by a controversial decision. Five months later, he was knocked out by Anthony Joshua.

Ngannou signed a contract with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), which supported his transition to boxing after leaving the UFC.

Following his return to fight against Ferreira, new PFL CEO John Martin plans to meet with the Cameroonian this week in Dubai.

Martin said: “Francis is here in Dubai, and I will meet with him to discuss what comes next, what will be best for him.”

The 38-year-old Ngannou is planning a major fight with former heavyweight champion Wilder, whom he has called out to the ring. Martin, who has previously worked with media giants Time Warner, is ready to discuss a potential collaboration with PFL to organize this fight.

He also noted: “I may not know enough about the history of PFL's relationship and clearances for Ngannou in boxing. It would be a really exciting fight.”

Wilder was close to signing a contract with PFL, discussing an atypical fight in the MMA cage, but later inked a deal in Saudi Arabia, losing to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang.

Shortly after, Wilder secured a victory over unknown Tyrell Herndon in June and is now ready for the next high-profile bout.

Ngannou's plans for next opponent

Meanwhile, Ngannou is searching for his next opponent in MMA, and Martin hints at possible fighter names who have already signed contracts with PFL.

He added: “We have some really good fighters in PFL. We have Vadim Nemkov, who fights in December against Ferreira. These are all great fighters. I don't think we need to look for fighters outside of PFL to fight Francis. We just need to sit down and discuss.”

Wilder has also previously challenged Ngannou, likely building tension ahead of both athletes' future fights.

This situation opens up new opportunities for fight platforms where Ngannou and Wilder can meet in the ring, as well as for PFL, which is trying to expand its influence in the MMA world. The situation surrounding both fighters continues to attract the attention of combat sports fans and could lead to exciting matchups in the future.