Francis Ngannou views Deontay Wilder as 'most intriguing' boxing matchup, coach Eric Nicksick says

LAS VEGAS – Several high-profile boxers have been linked to former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, but Eric Nicksick says one stands out more than the others.

Ngannou parted ways with the UFC in January and appears to be gearing up for his long-desired boxing debut as his next move.

Tyson Fury expressed interest in welcoming Ngannou to the boxing world, but the WBC champion is currently linked to a fight with IBF, WBA and WBO title holder Oleksandr Usyk. Another standout name who’s down to box Ngannou is former longtime WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder, and Nicksick, Ngannou’s coach at Xtreme Couture, likes that idea a lot.

“We spoke all last week on probably doing boxing first,” Nicksick told MMA Junkie Radio. “That sounds like what he wants to do. We were talking about some different boxing trainers we might try to bring in, locations of where he might try to go, the opportunity to maybe fight Wilder. Anthony Joshua’s been a name.

“I’ve heard Tyson Fury. I’ve heard Andy Ruiz. I’ve heard all these different names kind of pop up. But the one that sounds like the most intriguing to Francis has been definitely the Wilder fight. So we’ll see how this transpires and what’s gonna happen, but I’m just glad to have him home and back in the gym.”

Wilder offered to fight Ngannou twice – once in boxing and once in MMA. While Nicksick isn’t sure how serious the offer is, he applauds him for the idea and welcomes it.