13 November 2023 , 14:38
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Deontay Wilder has been given respect by UFC boss Dana White for showing interest in a potential MMA fight.
Former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder hasn't fought in over a year and his absence from the ring has led to him considering a switch in disciplines. 'The Bronze Bomber' told Blue Bloods TV: “I’m thinking about doing both, UFC and boxing. To keep the activity alive and keep it going. I’ll be a dangerous man in the UFC, bro. With those four-ounce gloves?
“I broke the f****ng hitting bag machine with those four-ounce gloves on. That was some real stuff. I could see myself in [the UFC]. I think I want to tie it to the competitive side of me, wanting to do both. Get in there and just show the ability and talent of what I could do. I don’t think there’s nothing cooler than being a champion in both. Have the titles at the same time, too.”
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White opened the door for Wilder to fight in the UFC by telling reporters including Mirror Fighting over the weekend: "I like Deontay, we have a good relationship and it’s interesting, you know what I mean? You never see this s*** happening. You never see the boxers going, ‘I want to come over there and fight in the UFC.’ So, we’ll see what happens.”
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Wilder has been in talks to fight Anthony Joshua since the Brit's knockout win against Robert Helenius in August but their mega-fight is yet to be made. Wilder and Joshua are in talks to fight on the same card just two days before Christmas, as the American is set to face Joseph Parker in Riyadh whilst 'AJ' will fight Otto Wallin at the same event.
Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou claimed that Wilder has been training MMA in secret for the past few months. Wilder seemed open for a two-fight deal against Ngannou, who went the distance with Tyson Fury last month, that would see the pair fight in boxing and MMA.
“That has been in the discussion,” Ngannou said on The MMA Hour. “That’s something that can potentially happen. Deontay Wilder for a couple of months, or a little while, has been training MMA because there’s an option here. Nothing is set, but some things have been coming to my attention, so that’s something that makes sense."