FRANCIS NGANNOU has a secret link to football back home in Cameroon – but he will not be switching sports again.
Ngannou walked out on the UFC last year to swap MMA for boxing – but did so after signing with the Professional Fighters League.
The PFL gave the green light for the move to boxing and the ex-UFC champion faced Tyson Fury, 35, in October.
He sensationally dropped the unbeaten heavyweight boxer only to lose a controversial split-decision.
Ngannou then faced Fury’s British rival Anthony Joshua, 34, in March but it ended in a sickening second-round knockout loss.
And the successive boxing defeat looks to have sent the heavyweight hero, 37, back to MMA for his next bout.
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But first he went back to Cameroon for a holiday and took the chance to play some local football for Sable F.C de Batie.
And PFL CEO Peter Murray revealed Ngannou is such a big fan that he co-owns a football side in his homeland.
But he does not fear losing the 6ft 4in powerhouse to an all-new sport for a second time.
Murray told SunSport: “I don’t think he’s going to hit the pitch. He does have ownership in a Cameroonian football club.
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“He’s quite passionate about it, he may be quiet about it but he definitely supports that franchise.”
Brazilian Renan Ferreira, 34, knocked out ex-UFC heavyweight Ryan Bader, 40, in 20 seconds in February.
Ngannou was in attendance in Saudi Arabia for the lightning-quick finish – where it was announced he will face Ferreira in his cage comeback.
It will mark Ngannou’s debut fight for the PFL and his first in MMA since January 2022 – with September in Saudi eyed for the occasion.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
