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Deontay Wilder, the former WBC heavyweight champion, has reaffirmed his belief that he is the hardest puncher in combat sports, dismissing the claims of boxing newcomer Francis Ngannou, the former UFC champion.
Ngannou, known for his devastating punching power in mixed martial arts, made his mark in the boxing world with a strong showing against Tyson Fury in October. Despite ultimately losing the fight, Ngannou managed to drop Fury with a powerful hook in the third round, earning respect in the boxing community.
In a recent interview on The Last Stand Podcast with Brian Custer, Wilder addressed Ngannou's assertion of being the hardest puncher, stating,
"Women lie, men lie, but numbers don’t lie. I’ve been doing it for a very long time. And every man I’ve faced I’ve knocked out and put them on the canvas. You understand me? I don’t think that’s the same for him."
Wilder, who is of Nigerian descent like Ngannou, acknowledged the latter's power but remained firm in his claim, saying,
"When it comes to the hardest puncher in all of combat sports, you’re hearing the voice and you’re looking at the man that holds that title."
The 38-year-old Wilder, known for his knockout prowess with 42 knockouts in 43 wins, is preparing for his upcoming bout against former titlist Joseph Parker on December 23 in Riyadh. The fight will be part of a card headlined by Anthony Joshua’s 12-round bout against Otto Wallin, marking Wilder's second fight in two years after his stoppage loss to Fury in October 2022.