It’s been over a year since Francis Ngannou last fought. 12 months since his appearance in the cage and 19 months since he stepped into the boxing ring. However, lest their patience run thin, fans may have a reason to rejoice. Ngannou has expressed interest in facing Deontay Wilder. After a string of setbacks, the former WBC heavyweight champion finally regained his rhythm with a seventh-round TKO victory over Tyrrell Anthony Herndon in late June. A heavyweight clash between the two now seems quite feasible.

Still, given how his last bout against Anthony Joshua ended, Ngannou might do well to recalibrate before stepping in against the heavy-hitting Wilder. Though 40, Wilder still carries devastating power, particularly in his right hand, which has crushed many opponents. Interestingly, Francis Ngannou‘s loss to Joshua came up for a discussion on The Joe Rogan Experience. The UFC color commentator shared insights into why, after a promising showing against Tyson Fury, Ngannou faltered when he faced Joshua.

When Francis Ngannou met his kryptonite: Anthony Joshua

Ngannou’s name entered the conversation when guest Michael ‘Venom’ Page mentioned Bob Sapp. Page suggested Ngannou could be seen as a modern version of the footballer-turned-fighter. So speaking about the Cameroonian-French powerhouse, Joe Rogan recalled how, in many fans’ eyes, Ngannou had ‘beaten’ Tyson Fury. But that being said, he wasn’t prepared for Anthony Joshua’s onslaught.

“I mean, he wasn’t ready for Anthony Joshua because Anthony Joshua was a different thing,” Rogan said. According to him, Joshua possessed more knockout power than most realized. Page offered a technical breakdown. “I know he likes to switch in, but again, this is where boxing is. If you don’t have that kind of intellect in boxing, that footwork and foot positioning of putting your foot on one side, you’re going to get killed,” he explained.

One wrong step, he added, could unravel an entire game plan. Rogan further noted that Joshua had likely studied Ngannou’s performance against Fury, identifying weaknesses and preparing accordingly. “Fury, I think, probably took him lightly,” Joe Rogan concluded.

Though casual, that’s a fair assessment of Ngannou’s second boxing loss.

Francis Ngannou vs. Deontay Wilder: Heavyweight showdown in the works

Against Fury, he lasted the distance and even managed to knock down the Mancunian. The fight ended in a split-decision loss that drew heavy scrutiny. But the Joshua bout was an entirely different story. Riding high after consecutive wins following losses to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua knocked Ngannou out cold in the second round.

Time has passed, but it appears ‘The Predator’ still harbors boxing ambitions and perhaps a desire for redemption.

In early August, reports surfaced that Deontay Wilder had expressed interest in a potential matchup. So Ngannou decided to test the waters and responded by posting training footage. “It’s time to finally settle the debate, @bronzebomber,” the caption on his Instagram post read.

Later, speaking with Ariel Helwani, Ngannou confirmed he was actively pursuing the Wilder fight. Though official discussions were yet to take place. “We haven’t engaged personally, but it’s going to be soon… We are still setting some things up,” he said.

Roughly two years ago, around the time Ngannou made his transition to boxing, Wilder had already spoken about the possibility of facing him. Now, that fight seems closer than ever. Fans hope it clears the usual hurdles. For Ngannou, however, the moment may call for reflection and learning from past mistakes.

Do you think Francis Ngannou can turn things around and set his boxing record straight against Deontay Wilder?