08 March 2024 , 13:00
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Francis Ngannou is set to return to the cage after he fights Anthony Joshua - and finally make his PFL debut.
Ngannou signed for the MMA promotion after leaving the UFC early last year, but has put his debut on hold while he pursued the biggest fights in boxing. He dropped and almost stopped Tyson Fury last October and will tonight take on Joshua back in Saudi Arabia.
Should he win, Ngannou will target the winner of Fury's upcoming undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk on May 18. But Ngannou has also committed to returning to MMA and taking on Renan Ferreira in the PFL.
The Brazilian knocked out Ryan Bader inside 21 seconds last month to become heavyweight champion with Ngannou at cageside for the fight in Riyadh. Ferreira called out the Cameroonian in his post-fight interview. “I am the real champion out here, I am the record breaker and record setter,” he said. “Francis, where are you? Let’s do this. I’ve always been ready to fight against the very best in the world, it can be against Francis in the boxing ring or in the cage, wherever he wants to do it.
“I already am one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time, I’ve proved this inside of the SmartCage and I’m going to continue proving it.” Ngannou was seen leaving the Kingdom Arena whilst Ferreira was giving his post-fight interview, spoiling plans for a face-off between the future opponents.
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Ngannou is confident he can pull off an upset against Joshua - but is in no doubt about what would happen in an MMA fight between the rivals. He said: "Sometimes it just makes me laugh a little bit, because we are going to fight in boxing rules, but what would happen if it was a 'free' fight under MMA rules? I would smoke this guy. I am the only one to go in their backyard, none of them can come in my backyard. I would take two of them at once.
"I have learnt a little bit from the last fight, the last camp, and leading up to this one, so I get a little bit of experience, but the mindset is still the same. This is just my second boxing match, even though I am taking on the two best guys in the world in boxing. I am the underdog, I am going out there to prove that you can be an underdog and stand your ground."