MMA
PFL boss Donn Davis mulls potential Franics Ngannou-Deontay Wilder crossover bout
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Francis Ngannou could potentially face Deontay Wilder in a crossover boxing match with hybrid rules, with PFL chairman Donn Davis keen to see a bout between the pair.
The former delivered a brutal stoppage victory against Renan Ferreira on his promotion debut last year, following his return to MMA after a stint in the squared circle.
Ngannou may have lost both of his professional bouts with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, but drew acclaim for his performance in the former and is expected to return again.
Now Davis has mooted the chance of a possible fight with American Wilder, a former heavyweight world champion looking to rebuild his own reputation at the end of his career.
"I think Deontay Wilder is one that we've talked about, that he has talked about," he told Sky Sports News.
"Some sort of mixed rules or alternating rounds or just taking one aspect away from MMA rules," Davis said.
"I think Deontay Wilder is particularly interesting but you have to get the fans to understand it and it be a legitimate sport."
Davis further revealed that Ngannou will have one fight in each sport, a total of two, set for 2025, but refused to confirm who the French-Cameroonian star would face.
"He's going to fight twice this year," he added. "Once in MMA, once in boxing. What order? I'm not sure. What opponents? We're working on options.
"We support Francis and that's why he's at the PFL and I think you'll see over time other mega superstars come to the PFL because of that reason.
"He's now the most beloved fighter because of the challenges and the risks he's taken so we view the upside as greater than the downside."
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