Tom Aspinall feels that Francis Ngannou is good enough to topple former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder if the two meet in a boxing ring.
Ngannou, who recently signed with PFL, will have the flexibility to pursue boxing opportunities prior to his first fight with the promotion. In the past, Ngannou has been tied to potential fights with Anthony Joshua and champion Tyson Fury, though Wilder has expressed interest in facing him in the past.
Aspinall spoke with JN Media UK about the possibility. The heavyweight contender believes the one-dimensional Wilder is a winnable fight compared to current champions Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
“I think if there was anybody he (Ngannou) could beat, it would be Wilder.” Wilder is – I don’t wanna slag the guy off because he’s one of the hardest punches ever. But as far as actual boxing ability, his level is way lower than someone like an (Oleksandr) Usyk or a Tyson Fury or somebody like that.”
Neither Ngannou nor Wilder has a fight scheduled for the time being. Despite his multiple interactions with Fury in the past, a bout between the two is highly unlikely.
Francis Ngannou vs. Deontay Wilder would be a huge event
Aspinall does make a good point. Wilder is one of, if not, the most technically flawed champions in boxing history. His one-note offense consists solely of a destructive right hand that he telegraphs every time he throws it. To his credit, Wilder only has two defeats to Fury on his resume, and has one of the highest knockout percentages in boxing history.
Ngannou would be an underdog, but he would have a shot at winning. This is the kind of fight that would be appropriate for a mega event in Saudi Arabia, which would be a huge payday for Ngannou and Wilder.
As Wilder awaits his next challenger in the boxing ring, and Ngannou is slowly preparing for his debut as a boxer, this fight makes plenty of sense for all parties involved.
