Retired Fedor names Ngannou boxing bout as dream fight but rules out any negotiations

Fedor Emelianenko has publicly floated the idea of a boxing match against Francis Ngannou, describing it as a dream scenario while making clear the conversation has not progressed beyond his own imagination.

“If we’re talking about being a downright dream, I’d be interested in fighting Francis Ngannou under boxing rules,” Emelianenko told Ushatayka. “I couldn’t manage MMA now because I have too many injuries, but I’d have a go at him in boxing. That’s just me thinking out loud. I never said we were in negotiations.”

Emelianenko, 50, holds a professional MMA record of 40-7 with one no contest and is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights the sport has produced. A dominant champion in Pride during the 2000s, he earned the nickname “The Last Emperor” before retiring following his final Bellator appearance in 2023. He cited the accumulation of injuries as the reason an MMA comeback is off the table entirely.

Ngannou, 19-3 in MMA, departed the UFC in 2023 after contract negotiations collapsed. He subsequently signed with the Professional Fighters League and made a single appearance for the promotion in 2024. Prior to that, the Cameroonian ventured into professional boxing, losing to both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Most recently, Ngannou competed at Most Valuable Promotions’ inaugural MMA event in May, stopping Philipe Lins by knockout in the first round.

The pairing would pit two of heavyweight combat sports’ most recognisable names against each other, though Emelianenko was careful to frame his comments as personal musing rather than any indication of active pursuit. With no negotiations confirmed on either side, the prospect remains firmly in the realm of speculation for now.