Francis Ngannou would have no chance against Deontay Wilder, claims Terence Crawford

‘If he hits you, you’re going to sleep’: Francis Ngannou would have no chance against Deontay Wilder if ex-UFC champion fights American boxer, claims Terence Crawford

  • Francis Ngannou left the UFC to be free to pursue big-money boxing matches 
  • He has signed with the PFL and is also allowed to compete in cross-over bouts 
  • Terence Crawford has warned Ngannou about possible Deontay Wilder clash 

Francis Ngannou has ‘no chance’ against Deontay Wilder and would be knocked out in a boxing match with the American, claims Terence Crawford. 

Crawford, one of the world’s top pound-for-pound boxers, weighed in on the possibility of the former UFC heavyweight champion crossing over to the squared circle. 

‘Listen, that guy is a puncher,’ Crawford said on the MMA Hour. ‘He’s doing his thing in MMA, but it’s different over there, calling out the top heavyweights of the world today. 

‘I don’t see him having a chance with either one of those guys, and that’s just being honest.

‘He’s got some skills. I would tell him, get your feet wet, try to fight some of those lower-tier guys first, just to feel yourself out, and get used to being in the ring, going rounds. 

Francis Ngannou is weighing up his next move and is in talks to face Deontay Wilder

Terrence Crawford (right) has warned Ngannou that he has no chance against Wilder

Terrence Crawford (right) has warned Ngannou that he has no chance against Wilder

‘It’s different. MMA and boxing are different. So just get used to some people with skills coming back at you and out-thinking you, the whole realm of boxing, before you go over there and try to mess with those guys. 

‘Because one guy that you’re going to get one shot — and if you mess up, you’re going to be knocked out into next week for messing with — [is] Deontay Wilder.

‘If he hits you, you’re going to sleep. Deontay Wilder, he hits you, you’re going to sleep. 

‘Tyson Fury, he went to sleep and woke up. I don’t see too many other guys doing that. Deontay Wilder is one of the biggest punchers ever, so just keep that in mind.’

Wilder has not been in the ring since October last year, when he beat Robert Helenius by first-round KO. 

Ngannou, meanwhile, left the UFC as a free agent before signing with the PFL on a deal that allows him to fight in huge crossover bouts. 

He has talked up potential clashes with Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua or Wilder, but nothing has been arranged thus far.  

Wilder is the closest to agreeing a deal, with Ngannou revealing: ‘We have had the conversation and at this moment, we’re more closer than with anybody else.

‘I think somebody will take somebody’s head off. I would just try [for it] not to be mine. I think that’s probably what’s going to happen.’ 

Wilder is one of the hardest punching heavyweight boxers of all time

Wilder is one of the hardest punching heavyweight boxers of all time  



***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk