Francis Ngannou (right)(image via DAZN / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Ahead of Francis Ngannou’s bout this Friday with Anthony Joshua, there’s been no shortage of talk about what will come next for the former UFC champ, if he’s defeated. But, based on recent comments Ngannou made, it doesn’t sound like the heavyweight has any intention of hanging up his boxing gloves.

Ngannou was booked for his high-profile fight with Joshua on account of his performance against boxing champ, Tyson Fury in October. Ngannou shocked the combat sports world by knocking Fury down in the fight, which Fury ultimately won via split decision.

Due to Ngannou’s contract with the PFL, the consensus has been that the fighter will return to MMA following the bout with Joshua. Others have opined that if Ngannou loses, it could mark the end of his boxing run altogether.

But, while speaking with the media this week, the 37-year-old Ngannou reported he will continue to box, moving forward (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“I will definitely still do some MMA fights, but I’m not leaving boxing,” Ngannou said.

“Remember, at the beginning, it was boxing. I wasn’t aware of MMA. And for more than a decade, it was all about boxing, dreaming about boxing. And then even when the opportunity came around [in MMA], 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, because 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.”

The 34-year-old Joshua (27-3) is riding a three-fight, winning streak, after dropping back-to-back bouts to Oleksandr Uysk.

Friday’s contest will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.