Former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos hopes to follow in the footsteps of Francis Ngannou, who recently fought Tyson Fury and is set to fight Anthony Joshua, by crossing over into boxing and potentially partnering with Ngannou to take on other boxers.
Before Francis Ngannou’s knockout punch on Tyson Fury, Junior dos Santos was hailed as MMA’s top boxer. He’d always dreamed of transitioning between sports, aiming for a high-profile heavyweight bout. But, alas, the Brazilian never got his shot.
Ngannou’s razor-thin decision against Fury, followed by a match with Anthony Joshua, has given dos Santos hope. He’s optimistic that Ngannou’s success will pave the way for more MMA fighters to get similar chances.
“Exciting times, huh?” dos Santos shared with MMA Fighting. “Feels like my boxing debut is just around the corner. Maybe I should team up with Francis. We could take down all these boxers.”
He’s convinced they can win. “Francis proved it. We fight differently. It’s raw, it’s real. We’ll find a way to beat you, and they’re not ready for it. The world will be on the edge of their seats.”
Despite the official loss on Ngannou’s record, dos Santos believes the Cameroon native deserved the win over Fury. He watched the fight live, then again at home, and he’s certain Ngannou should’ve been declared the winner.
“Francis won, no doubt,” dos Santos insisted. “This ain’t amateur boxing where every touch scores. It’s about effectiveness. Making your opponent back off. Knocking them down. Francis did that. Tyson was dodging the fight. He’s great, but Francis was the aggressor. Some experts might say Tyson won, but I believe Francis did.”
“Even if they didn’t award Francis the win, it was a victory. Everyone saw him beat the best heavyweight boxer, maybe ever. Tyson’s career is legendary, but Francis was just…wow.”
Dos Santos admits he didn’t think Ngannou stood a chance against Fury. But now? He’s not ruling out the possibility of Ngannou surprising everyone again in his fight with Joshua.
Joshua’s biggest weakness? He hates getting hit. And that could spell disaster against a knockout artist like Ngannou.
“Francis hits differently,” dos Santos mused. “I remember Mike Tyson’s power. He was fast and powerful. Francis might not be as quick, but his power? I think it’s even greater than Tyson’s. It’s impressive.”
“Francis can turn the tide with just one punch. Like he did with Tyson Fury.”
Dos Santos is eager to join Ngannou in boxing, but for now, he’s focusing on his next fight. He’s set to face Alan Belcher in the main event of the Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA card on Saturday. After defeating fellow UFC veteran Fabricio Werdum, dos Santos is looking to add another title to his collection.
But boxing is still on his mind. He’s previously called out Deontay Wilder, and he believes that fight makes sense. Maybe they could even share a card with Ngannou after his bout with Joshua.
“I’ve wanted a boxing fight for ages,” Dos Santos confessed. “The big names in heavyweight boxing always turned down the fights. The other potential matches weren’t interesting to anyone. But now, it feels like the time is right. If it happens, me and Francis will shock the world again. We’ll give the boxers a run for their money.”
“We’re getting closer to making it happen. Especially if we can get on the same card as Francis. That would be a big night. MMA versus boxing.”