Former Bellator heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko wants a boxing match with Francis Ngannou.
‘The Last Emperor’ is in a bit of a weird spot. Last year, the Russian retired from MMA following a first-round knockout loss to Bellator heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader. For Fedor Emelianenko, the defeat was his second to ‘Darth Bader’, and he retired post-fight.
However, he wasn’t retired for long. Fedor Emelianenko exited retirement relatively quickly, to target a boxing career. Everyone from Francis Ngannou, to Nate Diaz and Frank Mir has moved from the cage to the ring in recent years. With that in mind, the aging legend wanted to have a one-off fight in a different discipline.
Last year, Fedor Emelianenko called for a boxing match with Mike Tyson. ‘Iron Mike’ hasn’t competed since an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, where the two fought to a draw. Despite reports about the two legends potentially fighting this year, Tyson’s representative put an end to those talks earlier this month.
With that in mind, Fedor Emelianenko would rather now box Tyson’s protege, Francis Ngannou. In a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, the retired Bellator heavyweight called for a boxing match with ‘The Predator’. While the two can’t fight in MMA, Emelianenko is down to meet Ngannou in the ring.
Fedor Emelianenko calls for a boxing match against Francis Ngannou
“I can fight MMA guys too, I’d like to fight Francis Ngannou.” Fedor Emelianenko stated in a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, discussing his boxing ambitions. “I want to box him, I can’t do MMA anymore but I’d like to box him, I saw that fight [between Ngannou and Tyson Fury]. Yes I’d like to fight him.”
He continued, “Maybe it’s… Not overconfidence, but It’d be interesting to fight him. It’s not that [I’m fearless for wanting to fight him], if a fighter goes in the ring and his hamstrings are shaking, that’s not an established fighter. I’m a fighter still.”
“Yes, I still have my form.” Fedor Emelianenko concluded in the interview. “I still have the interest [in fighting].”
As of now, Francis Ngannou is currently scheduled to meet Anthony Joshua in a boxing match on March 8. For the PFL heavyweight, the bout will be his second in the ring. Last October, Ngannou made his debut against Tyson Fury, even dropping ‘The Gypsy King’. However, he wound up losing by split decision after ten rounds of action.
What do you make of these comments? Do you have any interest in seeing Fedor Emelianenko vs. Francis Ngannou? Who do you have winning that potential boxing match?
