Former heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua has urged UFC fighter Alex Pereira to make the switch to boxing, even telling the Brazilian to get in contact with his management company.
Pereira is a multi-combat sports star; after dominating the kickboxing world and winning titles in two weight classes, he made the switch to MMA and has become one of the biggest stars in the UFC. The 37-year-old is the UFC’s reigning light-heavyweight champion, having defended his belt last month with a spectacular second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 in Las Vegas.
Pereira announced himself in the UFC in November 2022, when, in only his fourth fight with the promotion, he sensationally knocked out his old kickboxing rival Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 to become the middleweight champion.
Following his defeat to Adesanya in the immediate rematch, Pereira moved up to light-heavyweight, edging past Jan Błachowicz in a split decision before winning the title in his first fight against Prochazka at UFC 295 in November 2023.
Pereira Has Made UFC History
It made Pereira only the ninth fighter in UFC history to become a two-weight world champion and the first ever to win titles at middleweight and light-heavyweight.
With the MMA world seemingly conquered, Pereira has now been urged by boxing superstar Joshua to test himself in the squared circle. In a social media message addressed to the Brazilian, AJ said: “Alex Pereira should make a boxing debut one day.”
Pereira responded by saying: “I’m honored you think so. It’s always been my dream. [But] I’m 37, I cannot make a career in it, so who do you recommend I fight?”
Joshua then replied: “The options are endless champ. I am sure something can be done. Drop @258mgt a line,” referring to his management company.
The options are endless champ. I am sure something can be done. Drop @258mgt a line 🫡 https://t.co/KxQjwwAqtH
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) July 7, 2024
MMA Stars In Boxing Is Nothing New
Pereira isn’t a complete boxing novice having had one professional fight back in June 2017 where he defeated Marcelo de Souza Cruz in a third-round TKO in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
He also wouldn’t be the first MMA star to make the crossover to boxing in recent years. Conor McGregor, who like Pereira won UFC titles in two divisions, famously fought Floyd Mayweather Jr in a boxing bout in August 2017. McGregor gave a decent account of himself before getting stopped in the 10th round.
More recently, former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made the move into boxing shortly after leaving UFC. In October last year, the Cameroonian almost shocked the world by taking then WBC and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to a split decision after flooring the ‘Gypsy King’ in the third round.
Ngannou was swiftly given a top-10 ranking by the WBC, although his next outing ended in a crushing second-round knockout by Joshua in March.
Pereira Recently Signed A New UFC Deal
Then just this past weekend, Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal – two of the most recognizable names in MMA – contested a boxing fight in Anaheim, California, with Diaz awarded a majority points victory.
However, the key difference between Pereira’s situation and those of Diaz, Masvidal, and Ngannou is that the latter three fighters were all free agents, allowing them the freedom to pursue boxing opportunities. Pereira, however, recently signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC and still has seven fights on that deal.
He could seek special permission the way McGregor did to fight Mayweather, but that was a unique opportunity that pitted the two best and most famous combat sports athletes against each other.
As for Joshua, he is back in the gym preparing for his next massive fight on September 21 when he aims to become only the fifth three-time heavyweight world champion in history – after Muhammad Ali, Lennox Lewis, Vitaly Klitschko, and Evander Holyfield. AJ takes on IBF world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in London, England.
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