Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is determined to continue his venture into the world of boxing, irrespective of the outcome of his upcoming clash with Anthony Joshua this week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In 2023, Ngannou made headlines when he stepped into the boxing ring for the first time, facing WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury in a highly anticipated bout. Despite falling short in a controversial split decision, "The Predator" showcased his boxing prowess, making the 10-round affair with "The Gypsy King" intensely competitive.
Now, as Ngannou prepares for another heavyweight showdown, this time against Anthony Joshua, he remains undeterred by the odds stacked against him. Addressing his ambitions in the sport of boxing during his arrival in Riyadh, Ngannou emphasized that win or lose, his journey in boxing is far from over.
"I will definitely still do some MMA fights, but I’m not leaving boxing," Ngannou declared. "Remember, at the beginning, it was boxing, I wasn’t aware of MMA. For more than a decade, it was all about boxing, dreaming about boxing. And then, even when the (MMA) opportunity came around, it was, for me, an opportunity to shine, to be a world champion, and then potentially switch to do the crossover and go back to boxing."
Ngannou highlighted his deep love and enjoyment for boxing, emphasizing that it has been a lifelong dream he needed to fulfill to find peace within himself.
"I feel like it was something that I needed, I had to fulfill in order to be at peace with myself. In order to retire peacefully, I needed to do that boxing because I just love it. I can’t tell you why, but I love it and I enjoy it."
Despite potential MMA bouts on the horizon, Ngannou's immediate focus remains on his boxing career. Coach Dewey Cooper confirmed this commitment during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, reinforcing Ngannou's dedication to making an impact in the boxing world.
READY... SET... FIGHTTT 🔥#KnockoutChaos is finally here
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) February 27, 2024
Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou 🥊
A clash that will deliver earth-shaking knockouts 💥
Happening in Riyadh on Friday March 8th at Kingdom Arena 🇸🇦
Live on DAZN Worldwide
Buy now at https://t.co/THJaW5nkPR… pic.twitter.com/oJCWLGqIi3
As Ngannou steps into the Kingdom Arena once again, he faces the challenge with resilience and determination, proving that win or lose, "The Predator" is here to stay in the boxing scene.