Deontay Wilder is still aiming to have an MMA fight.
The former WBC heavyweight champion has not fought in over a year since his first-round knockout of Robert Helenius. Attempts to make a fight with Andy Ruiz Jr. failed after the Mexican fighter turned down a 70-30 split. Thereafter, Wilder’s next fight was announced against Joseph Parker on December 23rd, 2023, in Saudi Arabia. The expectation is that Wilder will face Anthony Joshua next, provided that he comes out with a win. And yet, Wilder has not ruled out an MMA fight.
“My thing is I’m trying to come into the UFC family. I’m looking to cross over and do both boxing and going to the UFC as well. I’m serious about that. I’ve been getting a lot of calls. …I can see myself doing both. Being since boxing is not going as fast as it should be or fighters fearing for themselves not to fight,” Wilder
A fight in that regard could happen against Francis Ngannou. The former UFC heavyweight champion was in talks with Wilder over a two-fight deal, one in boxing and the other in MMA. That failed to result in a fight being made, however, talks could crop up again following Ngannou’s impressive performance against Tyson Fury. Having said that, though, the focus was on trying to create history regardless of the opponent.
“Dana gonna make sure they get what they want. Like he said, it ain’t all about record. It’s about the best fighting the best. That’s where I want to be at. I got several years left in me to be able to do this. I just wanna run it all out.I want to squeeze it all out until my time is up. I got a lot to deal right now. I just want to benefit both worlds. Being champion in both of them, heavyweight champion in both of them, UFC and boxing,” Wilder
Reaction
He will get killed in UFC
— pat (@patrikcarvalh12) November 19, 2023
Wilder you will get destroyed. Not worth ppv. Fight Andy Ruiz chicken. More money in boxing then UFC. Your going backwards. Boxing fans wants boxing. Bare knuckle fights are coming in hot .
— odawa (@5yb9z9ucej) November 19, 2023