Ex-UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is apparently listening to an offer from one of the most well-known crossover boxing entities in combat sports.
According to promoter Kalle Sauerland, the head of Wasserman Boxing, his colleagues at Misfits Boxing are currently in talks with the Cameroonian-French fighter to bring him under their promotional banner.
Misfits Boxing is the promotional group founded by YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI, Wasserman, and music producer Mams Taylor. The group has an exclusive content output partnership with DAZN, the sports streaming platform.
Ngannou has become a hot commodity recently after he was unable to negotiate a new contract with the UFC. Ngannou had been in promotional limbo for two years over his contract and pay. His last fight under the mixed-martial-arts league was in January 2022, when he defeated Ciryl Gane.
Now various suitors across boxing—a sport in which many observers believe Ngannou can notch the sort of paydays he believes he was unable to garner through the UFC—are lining up to secure Ngannou to a deal. Sauerland said he could envision an immediate fight between Ngannou and heavyweight trial-horse Derek Chisora, if Ngannou were to join Misfits.
“I’d love to sign him,” Sauerland said in a recent interview with Pro Boxing Fans. “I think he’d fit perfectly in with our crossover stuff with Misfits. I think we can build him on there, bring over Derek Chisora, a big fight like that, you know? There’s lots of good fights for him.”
Chisora is coming off a brutal 10th-round stoppage loss to WBC titlist Tyson Fury, who is yet another high profile boxer that has been linked to a crossover fight with Ngannou.
“I believe that Mams [Taylor] is speaking to their people (Ngannou’s handlers),” Sauerland continued. “I’m sure a lot of people are speaking to their people, but I think we can offer him something pretty unique. …I’m not involved, but my partner Mams is discussing with his people, yes.”
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