Joshua urges UFC's Pereira to switch to boxing

Anthony Joshua has urged two-weight UFC champion Alex Pereira to move to boxing.

The Brazilian retained his light-heavyweight title successful good style against Jiri Prochazka past month, adding different knockout to his awesome resume.

Joshua, a two-time heavyweight champion, sent Pereira a connection connected societal media, saying: "Alex Pereira should make a boxing debut 1 day."

Pereira has quickly go of nan UFC's biggest stars, winning world titles successful 2 divisions since making his octagon debut successful 2021.

"I’m honoured you deliberation so," Pereira said successful consequence to Joshua. "It’s ever been my dream - [but] I’m 37, I cannot make a profession successful it, truthful who do you urge I fight?"

Joshua replied by saying nan "options are endless", urging Pereira to get successful touch pinch his guidance institution astir transitioning to boxing.

Pereira headlined UFC 300 earlier this twelvemonth and stepped successful astatine 2 weeks' announcement to switch Conor McGregor arsenic nan main arena for UFC 303.

He would not beryllium nan first mixed martial arts prima to effort boxing successful caller times, pinch erstwhile UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou taking connected Tyson Fury and Joshua successful a boxing ring.

Ngannou, 37, gave a bully relationship of himself successful his pro boxing debut against Fury - going 10 rounds pinch nan past unbeaten heavyweight - but was knocked retired successful 2 rounds by Joshua successful March.

Pereira transitioned from kickboxing to MMA and has teased a move up to heavyweight aft winning titles astatine light-heavyweight and middleweight.

Ngannou many times stated boxing offered overmuch bigger conflict purses than nan UFC, which he near to prosecute a profession successful boxing.