Francis Ngannou is still eyeing a boxing fight in Africa with Anthony Joshua despite signing a new deal with MMA promotion PFL.
Ex-UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou has been a free agent for several months after quitting the promotion, and has had a keen eye on a venture in the boxing ring. It is understood that 'The Predator' has held talks with a number of leading stars in the squared circle ranks including Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Joshua over a showdown this year.
With no official progress made beyond initial inquiries, Ngannou today announced that he has signed for MMA label PFL with a view to making his debut in 2024 once he has tied down a boxing fight. And despite a potential clash with Wilder seemingly sitting as the front runner, the Cameroon star believes a fight with Joshua in Africa provides the biggest draw.
"Anthony Joshua is a fight we like," said Ngannou on The DAZN MMA Show when assessing his options in the boxing ring following his signature to resume his career in the cage. "We spoke with Eddie [Hearn] once but that was when Joshua was about to fight Franklin. If we bring this to Africa then it is going to be massive. I think this will get him excited, that he can fight in this continent.”
Ngannou's planned venture into a fight in Africa could be a sizeable draw for Joshua in the future, given the British star has vowed to compete in the continent given his heritage. However, Joshua is currently in advanced talks to face Wilder in Saudi Arabia this December, and will likely take a rematch against Dillian Whyte in between as he continues his rebuild.
Ngannou has already held talks with Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn over the potential fight, but it is extremely unlikely to materialise this year given AJ's commitments to his boxing career. After meeting the MMA star in Las Vegas to discuss his pursuit of a boxing career, Hearn claimed Joshua is a fight on the forefront of Ngannou's mind, but there has been no movement on talks.
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"There has been no movement on that fight not really," Hearn told Mirror Fighting. "I went to Vegas to meet Francis Ngannou and wow. "What an unbelievable story, it was one of the most unbelievable meetings I have ever had. Two hours of listening to what has happened in his life and wow, it is unbelievable.
"He wants to fight AJ, Wilder or Fury and he wants the biggest out there. I don't think it is a fight on AJ's mind, but I feel like if I presented it to him, I see no reason why he would not be up for that fight."
