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Deontay Wilder caused a seismic shock when responding to Francis Ngannou’s callout, which, according to Shelly Finkel, is not part of the plan.
Wilder fired back at Ngannou after the former UFC champion once again opened up on a boxing clash between the pair.
The “Bronze Bomber” insists he remains ready and willing to meet Ngannou inside the ropes, despite recent revelations from manager Finkel that any crossover battle will not materialize until 2026.
In an exclusive to World Boxing News earlier this year, Finkel admitted, “Deontay Wilder will not be facing Francis Ngannou in 2025. That fight is not happening this year.
“The plan is for Deontay to have another fight before the end of this year,” Finkel continued. “After that, we will be looking for a big fight in 2026. We’d be looking at a fight with Anthony Joshua or Usyk, something like that.”
But Wilder himself has now reignited the conversation by sending a pointed message to Ngannou, dismissing any talk of fear or retreat from the fight.
“Respect, but I’m ten toes down,” Wilder declared. “No fear, no fold, no fake. Always ready, always solid. Step in the ring and you’ll see what that means.”
Ngannou vs Wilder?
Ngannou, who shocked the boxing world when he dropped Tyson Fury in 2023 before suffering a devastating knockout loss to Anthony Joshua, has continued to angle for a big-punching bout with Wilder.
The matchup is a natural collision between two of combat sports’ most destructive KO artists.
However, with Finkel confirming Wilder will not be rushed back into a massive fight until 2026, as doubts remain whether the Ngannou fight can realistically be staged in the immediate future, unless the plan outlined to WBN changes significantly.
Wilder’s latest statement underlines his willingness to mix it with top names again following his comeback win over Tyrrell Herndon over the summer.
The former WBC heavyweight champion has maintained that his power, reputation, and willingness to engage remain firmly intact after the mid-round knockout.
However, Finkel told WBN another similar event to the Herndon clash, with only a minor step up, is likely to see out the year for Wilder.
For now, fans wait for a decision on the blueprint. Wilder has spoken. Finkel has spoken. And Ngannou continues to chase the clash. But the understanding is that Wilder needs more time.
Putting Ngannou in the co-feature of his rival’s next event wouldn’t be a bad idea to build momentum, provided organizers don’t put the pair at any risk of losing.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.
