Donn Davis expresses genuine delight in Francis Ngannou’s flourishing career, even if it necessitates a delay for his anticipated debut in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
In early 2023, PFL secured a significant partnership deal with Ngannou, enabling him to explore his boxing interests, with plans for his debut in 2024.
As anticipated, Ngannou ventured into boxing, engaging in a contentious split decision bout against heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in October. Presently, he is gearing up to confront former boxing heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a 10-round match scheduled for this Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This development naturally postponed Ngannou’s anticipated debut in the PFL in early 2024, sparking speculation among fans about his future participation in the SmartCage given his burgeoning boxing success. However, Davis remains unperturbed.
Speaking recently on The MMA Hour, Davis articulated his lack of concern: “I have no worry about my partner being too successful. This is like having a brother who’s exceptionally wealthy and might not take you on lavish trips. Could I be so fortunate to have such a brother? I revel in our partner Francis Ngannou’s success! Do I harbor any apprehensions about him fighting for us? None whatsoever. Will scheduling take longer? Certainly. Do we need to secure more formidable opponents? Absolutely! But will this enhance the excitement of the fight? Undoubtedly! Francis’ triumphs present challenges in procuring opponents, but they will only elevate the significance of his fights for PFL. It will happen, without a doubt.”
Yet, the looming question remains: when? Ngannou asserts his intention to return to MMA eventually, but he also expresses a desire for rematches with Tyson Fury post-Joshua bout and potentially with Joshua himself, contingent upon the outcome of their upcoming clash.
This entails at least one more boxing match, possibly two, and victorious outcomes could unlock further opportunities within the boxing realm.
Nevertheless, Davis maintains an unwavering conviction that these are favorable circumstances: “I always ask, what’s the worst-case scenario here? If my brother says, ‘I’ll take you on a trip in March 2025,’ do you decline? No! You wait. Our worst-case scenario is having the biggest MMA fight in February 2025 with Francis. That’s our worst-case scenario? Sign me up! Having the greatest fighter in the world? Sign me up for that. That he’s revolutionized boxing and spearheading PFL Africa for us? Sign me up for that.”
Davis further emphasizes the scarcity of opponents for Ngannou, paralleling the situation with the UFC: “There’s only one opponent for Francis Ngannou: Jon Jones. It’s Jon Jones or nobody.” However, he contends that Renan Ferreira could provide an enticing matchup despite the absence of a Jon Jones showdown.
Davis envisions the possibility of Ngannou-Jones finally materializing, especially with both PFL and UFC forging partnerships with Saudi Arabia and ESPN. He remarks, “To me, it’s a positive when monumental entities expand. The Francis-Jon Jones matchup grew in significance, as Francis became more formidable and exhilarating.”
In Davis’ perspective, the culmination of these factors in 2025 could yield unforeseen developments: “Sometimes, immense pressure leads to breakthroughs, resulting in extraordinary outcomes. This is how exemplary companies are established, how championship teams are forged. I believe that in 2025, unforeseeable events could transpire.”
