Deontay Wilder Finally Answers Francis Ngannou’s Call: The Ultimate Power Showdown Is Coming

Oh, look who finally decided to pick up the phone. After months of Francis Ngannou practically begging for attention from boxing’s most notorious knockout artist, Deontay Wilder has finally graced us with a response. And honestly? It’s about damn time.

The former UFC heavyweight champion has been throwing out callouts like confetti at a New Year’s party, desperately trying to get Wilder’s attention for what could be the most destructive boxing match we’ve seen in years. Well, congratulations Francis – you’ve officially got his attention, and now we’re all about to witness what happens when two human wrecking balls decide to settle their differences in the ring.

Wilder Accepts the Challenge: “Let’s Get It On, Baby”

Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Wednesday, Wilder didn’t just accept Ngannou‘s challenge – he embraced it with the enthusiasm of someone who genuinely enjoys inflicting pain on people for a living. And honestly, can you blame him?

“Francis, let’s get it on, baby,” Wilder declared with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the face. “If you’re serious about what you’re saying – well I am serious about what I’m saying – Let’s get it on once and for all, your power against my power. Let’s test it out baby. We can go to the motherland [Africa] too…”

Now that’s what I call a response. No beating around the bush, no corporate PR nonsense – just pure, unfiltered “I’m going to knock you into next week” energy. It’s refreshing in a world where most athletes need their management teams to approve their breakfast choices.

The Bronze Bomber’s Devastating Track Record

Let’s be real here – when people talk about knockout power in boxing, there’s really only one name that matters: Deontay Wilder. The man has turned ending fights into an art form, boasting an absolutely ridiculous 43 knockouts in 44 professional victories. That’s a 97.7% knockout rate, which is basically the statistical equivalent of being a human cheat code.

At 39, Wilder might not be the spring chicken he once was, but his right hand hasn’t gotten the memo about aging. Just two months ago, he reminded everyone why they call him ‘The Bronze Bomber’ when he demolished Tyrrell Anthony Herndon via TKO. Sure, he’s coming off some tough losses to Tyson Fury, but let’s not pretend those defeats suddenly made his punches feel like gentle love taps.

The guy has spent years proving that it only takes one perfectly timed shot to send someone to the shadow realm, and honestly, that’s a pretty solid resume when you’re facing someone who’s been talking about testing power levels like we’re in some kind of Dragon Ball Z episode.

Ngannou’s Boxing Reality Check

Now, let’s talk about Francis Ngannou’s boxing “career” – and yes, those quotation marks are doing some heavy lifting here. The Cameroonian powerhouse has exactly two professional boxing matches under his belt, and spoiler alert: he lost both of them.

His debut against Tyson Fury was genuinely shocking – in a good way. Ngannou knocked down the heavyweight champion in the third round and lost by split decision, which was about as close to a moral victory as you can get when you’re 0-0 facing one of the best heavyweights in the world. It was impressive, unexpected, and gave everyone hope that maybe, just maybe, this crossover thing could work.

Then came Anthony Joshua, and reality came crashing down harder than Ngannou himself did that night. Joshua studied the tape, identified Ngannou’s habit of switching to southpaw for absolutely no reason, and capitalized on his tendency to deflect jabs with his lead hand. The result? One of the most brutal knockouts in recent memory, with Ngannou getting flattened for the first time in his career.

Why This Fight Actually Makes Sense

Despite Ngannou’s less-than-stellar boxing record, a fight with Wilder makes perfect sense from both a competitive and entertainment standpoint. Both men built their reputations on being able to end fights with a single punch, and there’s something beautifully simple about putting two of the hardest hitters from their respective sports in a ring and seeing who’s left standing.

Plus, let’s be honest – we’ve all been wondering who would win in a pure power contest between these two. Ngannou holds the world record for the hardest punch ever measured, clocking in at an absolutely bonkers 129,161 units on a PowerKube machine. Meanwhile, Wilder has been putting people to sleep with his right hand for over a decade in the sport where knockout power matters most.

It’s the kind of fight that sells itself: pure, unadulterated violence between two men who specialize in turning lights out.

The Africa Connection

Wilder’s suggestion to take the fight to Africa is actually brilliant marketing. Both fighters have strong connections to the continent – Ngannou is from Cameroon, and Wilder has always been vocal about his African heritage. Fighting on African soil would add an extra layer of significance to an already compelling matchup.

Plus, let’s face it – after Ngannou’s previous boxing matches generated disappointing pay-per-view numbers (seriously, 4,600 PPV buys for the Joshua fight? That’s embarrassing), they need every angle they can get to drum up interest. The “Battle for Africa” narrative might be exactly what this fight needs to capture mainstream attention.

The Verdict on Power

Here’s where things get interesting. Tyson Fury, who has the unique distinction of having faced both men in the ring, already weighed in on who hits harder. In a recent interview, Fury was pretty definitive about his answer:

“Deontay! By far. Francis Ngannou is a big puncher but I wasn’t really troubled by any of his punches. It wasn’t like he was dynamite and every time he hit I wobbled or anything. So, Wilder is still the biggest puncher I have ever been by a mile.”

Coming from someone who’s been on the receiving end of both men’s best shots, that’s about as authoritative an opinion as you can get. But hey, that just makes the potential fight even more intriguing – can Ngannou prove Fury wrong?

Bottom Line: Make This Fight Happen

Look, we can debate the technical aspects all day long. We can argue about boxing experience, technique, and all the other factors that determine fight outcomes. But at the end of the day, this fight is about one simple question: when two of the hardest punchers on the planet step into a ring together, who’s still standing at the end?

Wilder has finally answered Ngannou’s call, and now it’s time for promoters, networks, and everyone else involved to stop overthinking this and just make it happen. We don’t need a dozen press conferences or months of manufactured drama – we just need two guys, one ring, and whatever’s left of our collective sanity after watching what promises to be an absolutely explosive encounter.

Francis Ngannou wanted Deontay Wilder’s attention. Well, congratulations Francis – you’ve got it. Now let’s see if you can handle what comes next.