Demetrious Johnson Advocates for Francis Ngannou's Continued Boxing Career
Former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson is enthusiastic about the idea of his fellow former UFC champion, Francis Ngannou, continuing his career in the boxing world. Over the weekend in Saudi Arabia, Francis Ngannou made his professional boxing debut against none other than WBC world champion Tyson Fury, widely regarded as one of the top heavyweights in the sport. Ngannou entered the boxing ring as a significant underdog but delivered a remarkable performance. In the third round, he stunned everyone by knocking Fury down with a powerful left hand. The fight turned out to be much more competitive than many had expected, with Ngannou coming very close to pulling off a major upset. Fury was ultimately awarded the victory by a razor-close split decision, with two judges scoring it 95-94 and 96-93 in his favor, while a third judge had it 95-94 for Ngannou. Earlier this year, Francis Ngannou signed a promotional agreement with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and plans to make his PFL debut in 2024. His last MMA fight was in January 2022 when he defended his UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. Demetrious Johnson, also known as "Mighty Mouse," strongly believes that Ngannou has achieved all there is to accomplish in MMA. He expressed his disappointment with the judges' decision, asserting that Ngannou deserved to win. Johnson made it clear that he no longer wishes to see Ngannou return to mixed martial arts and advocates for a career in boxing. He envisions the PFL, an MMA organization, expanding into the world of boxing, leveraging Ngannou's status as a rising star in the boxing world. Ngannou's victory against Tyson Fury, the undisputed heavyweight champion, has solidified his presence in the boxing community. As far as Johnson is concerned, there's little left for Ngannou to prove in the world of mixed martial arts, and a transition to professional boxing could be the next logical step in his career. It remains to be seen whether Francis Ngannou will consider this shift to boxing, given the potential opportunities and challenges that await him in both sports.
