Francis Ngannou's Transition to Boxing
Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, has taken a significant turn in his combat sports career by shifting his focus from the octagon to the boxing ring. At 37 years of age, Ngannou is not just moving to boxing; he is aiming for the zenith, expressing a strong desire to square off against some of the sport's elite pugilists.
Upcoming Bout with Anthony Joshua
The Cameroonian powerhouse is scheduled to face Anthony Joshua, a prominent figure in heavyweight boxing. This matchup comes as Ngannou seeks new challenges beyond the world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Joshua, who has rebounded with three victories after facing defeats at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk, presents a formidable obstacle on Ngannou's path to boxing success.
Near Victory Over Tyson Fury
Ngannou's boxing credentials are not entirely untested, as evidenced by his near victory in a non-title bout against Tyson Fury. While he did not emerge victorious, the performance was enough to signal Ngannou's potential in the squared circle and has added to the anticipation surrounding his full-time transition into boxing.
Aspirations to Fight Deontay Wilder
The aspirations of Francis Ngannou do not stop at Anthony Joshua. He has publicly declared his intent to fight Deontay Wilder, a boxer known for his devastating knockout power, boasting 42 knockout wins. Despite Wilder's recent loss to Joseph Parker, a bout between him and Ngannou would be a compelling draw for fans, given both fighters' reputations for finishing fights decisively.
Legacy in the UFC
Reflecting on his MMA career, Ngannou has achieved what many fighters dream of but few attain: he captured the UFC heavyweight title in 2021 and successfully defended it against Ciryl Gane. However, despite this pinnacle of success in MMA, Ngannou has expressed a need for fresh challenges, leading to his pivot towards professional boxing.
Signing with the Professional Fighters League
Adding an interesting twist to Ngannou's career trajectory, he signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), although he has yet to compete under their banner. The PFL, known for its seasonal format and million-dollar tournaments, could potentially serve as another platform for Ngannou's boxing pursuits. There had been discussions about a possible fight with Wilder within the PFL framework, illustrating the fluid nature of combat sports matchmaking and the diverse opportunities available to high-profile athletes like Ngannou.
Ngannou's Perspective on His Boxing Career
In his own words, Ngannou has clarified that his current endeavors are centered around boxing, distinguishing it from his storied MMA career. "I'm here for the boxing career, and there I have a lot of challenges, a lot of names. For example, the top three guys that I've always had are Fury, Joshua, and Wilder," Ngannou stated, underscoring his commitment to making a mark in the world of boxing.
He continued, "It's a boxing career; it's not an MMA career now. We are here talking about my boxing career." This shift in focus reveals Ngannou's dedication to excelling in a new domain, setting aside the mixed martial arts accolades he amassed over the years.
Ngannou also issued a direct message to Wilder, highlighting his determination to add a victory over the former WBC heavyweight champion to his record. "Wilder better get it together because I'm not done. I want that name on my record," he proclaimed.
Despite reaching the summit of MMA competition, Ngannou feels the pull of uncharted territory. "In my MMA career, I got to the point that is everyone's dream. I was MMA champion. There are some great fights to do in MMA, but there's not a new challenge, something exciting in MMA," he reflected.
With a sense of the rapidly changing landscape of combat sports, Ngannou acknowledged the unpredictable nature of fight promotion. "Two months ago, we were talking about fighting Deontay Wilder in the PFL [Professional Fighters League]. The landscape can change quickly. Everything is possible," he concluded, leaving the door open for various intriguing possibilities in his combat sports journey.
As Francis Ngannou embarks on this new chapter, the combat sports community watches with keen interest. Whether he will replicate his MMA success in the boxing realm remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Ngann