Francis Ngannou provides early update on future plans after Anthony Joshua boxing defeat

Francis Ngannou has provided an early update on his future boxing plans following his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua, last Friday.

The previous UFC heavyweight champion made his transition to boxing late last yr when he fought Tyson Fury, following his signing with the Skilled Fighters League.

After putting on a terrific performance against ‘The Gypsy King’, Ngannou decided to persist with boxing, and it was later announced he would tackle Anthony Joshua at ‘Knockout Chaos’ in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately ‘The Predator’s’ second boxing outing didn’t go in addition to his first, and he was brutally knocked out in round two.

Prior to his fight with Joshua, the PFL announced that when the 37-year-old does return to MMA, his first fight contained in the PFL SmartCage might be against 2023 PFL heavyweight tournament winner, Renan Ferreira.

The 6ft 8″ Brazilian recently fought on the PFL vs Bellator, champion vs champion event, knocking out Bellator heavyweight champion, Ryan Bader, in only 21 seconds.

Initially, the interest in Ngannou vs Ferreira wasn’t very high, but following Ferreira’s knockout win and Ngannou’s knockout loss, there’s more anticipation for that matchup now.

Francis Ngannou claims boxing profession ‘isn’t over’

Speaking online this Wednesday, following the devastating loss last Friday, Francis Ngannou spoke to his fans on an Instagram Live video, giving his response to the fight.

“I remember being within the locker room attempting to warm up but I used to be feeling asleep, I used to be sweating but I used to be feeling asleep. No blame to anybody all of the blame here is nearly me it’s the sport, walking into that (fight) all of us knew it could occur, I wasn’t seeing it occur like that but I at all times knew it could occur.” Ngannou admitted.

Despite the loss, the 37-year-old told his fans that his boxing profession ‘isn’t over’, the one thing that might be taken away from him is ‘time’.

“I just wish to allow you to guys know that it’s not over yet, by no means, we’re just getting began. The one thing that we are going to miss here is time and I believe now we have a very good period of time ahead of us.

“As for at once, I’m going to take a while for myself spend a while with my family and friends, after which come back really and prepare for an additional challenge and adventure.”

When Ngannou made his transition over to boxing, fans called for a fight between him and Deontay Wilder. With the Alabaman also suffering a loss recently, that could be a fight which may be revisited somewhere down the road.

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Jamie Theodosi

Jamie Theodosi is a MMA Specialist and Combat Sports Author for Bloody Elbow. His love for MMA began within the early days of The Ultimate Fighter and he has been obsessed ever since. Boasting a level in Sports Journalism from the University of Birmingham, Jamie has been covering combat sports for five years. Previously, he worked as a reporter for Cageside Press and producer on The MMA Fan Show Podcast. Jamie has covered several live UFC events and interviewed a few of the perfect fighters on earth in the method. Striving to inform the stories of the fighters.

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