‘Boxing first’ – PFL founder gets brutally honest on Francis Ngannou’s future and the next fight for Dakota Ditcheva
Donn Davis has asserted Francis Ngannou’s opportunities in boxing are too good to not prioritise it over MMA. Founder and Chariman of the PFL Davis also revealed conversations he has held with Dakota Ditcheva, who became the first British woman to win a MMA world title in November. Ngannou made his MMA return in October after fighting Tyson Fury and Anthony JoshuaGetty He dropped Fury in his defeat to the Brit but was knocked out by AJGetty Davis was in attendance for PFL’s Road to Dubai Champions Series, which was headlined by Usman Nurmagomedov vs Paul Hughes as the former won via majority decision. After leaving the UFC in 2022 and exploring boxing, Ngannou, 38 made his return to MMA under the PFL banner in October. On his return, he flattened Brazil’s Renan Ferreira with a brutal first-round knockout to be crowned the promotion’s inaugural Super Fight heavyweight champion. One year prior, ‘The Predator’ contested his first professional boxing bout, suffering a razor-thin defeat to Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia after knocking him down with a left hook in the third round. However, the confidence Ngannou gained from that bout didn’t last long, as he suffered a devastating KO to Anthony Joshua five months later. “As I said with Francis,” Davis said, speaking with talkSPORT MMA in Dubai. “One; we’re true partners, we work with him on what’s the best thing for the year. “It’s one MMA and one boxing, [we decide] what order and what opponents to maximise Francis’ career that year. “So we’re still in discussions with him, but it will be one boxing and one MMA. “If you’re going to ask me my guess – it’s Francis’ decision – but I think boxing will come first, MMA will come second. Many argued Ngannou should have won his bout with FuryGetty But he may get a shot at his first pro boxing victory this yearGetty “His opportunities in boxing right now are through the roof. That would be my guess.” It is likely the PFL will be working closely with Saudi boxing chief Turku Alalshikh to confirm Ngannou’s next opponent in the ring, as this will likely boost his marketability for future PFL bouts. Alalshikh has teased at wanting to put on a cross-over fight between Ngannou and UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Just like Ngannou’s striking coach, Dewey Cooper, Alalshikh has also mentioned Deontay Wilder as a potential opponent for the Cameroon native in the squared circle too. As well as Ngannou, Ditcheva, 26, who is from Sale, Greater Manchester, had huge success – if not even more – in the PFL last year. Her second-round TKO win over former UFC title challenger Taila Santos marked her fourth victory in an incredible 2024, as numerous MMA outlets named her their Fighter of the Year. Ditcheva has racked up millions in prize money from her PFL boutsJose Peñuela / PFL Ditcheva was crowned PFL’s flyweight world champion in November after finishing Santos, subsequently winning $1million too. She told talkSPORT.com last month that she would do ‘pretty well’ against UFC’s No.1 women’s pound-for-pound fighter Valentina Shevchenko, amid rumours that UFC CEO Dana White has her on his radar. “We had dinner with Dakota the other night. Dakota’s here tonight as our guest,” Davis added. “We simply said to Dakota: ‘Seven of ten major MMA organizations named you fighter of the year. Not rookie of the year, not rising star of the year, fighter of the year. “We want you to be the number one female star on the planet. And we’re going to get behind you to do that. So together, let’s outline a plan, so that that’s achieved.’ “That takes personality, that takes drive, that takes being the best fighter and it takes the company behind you. “Let’s put all four of those together and do it. That’s what you’re going to see from Dakota.” Davis concluded that he ‘believes’ Ditcheva will feature on a PFL card in the UK in 2025, alongside former PFL featherweight champion and co-host of talkSPORT MMA’s Uncaged show Brendan Loughnane, who is also from Manchester.
Donn Davis has asserted Francis Ngannou’s opportunities in boxing are too good to not prioritise it over MMA.
Founder and Chariman of the PFL Davis also revealed conversations he has held with Dakota Ditcheva, who became the first British woman to win a MMA world title in November.
Davis was in attendance for PFL’s Road to Dubai Champions Series, which was headlined by Usman Nurmagomedov vs Paul Hughes as the former won via majority decision.
After leaving the UFC in 2022 and exploring boxing, Ngannou, 38 made his return to MMA under the PFL banner in October.
On his return, he flattened Brazil’s Renan Ferreira with a brutal first-round knockout to be crowned the promotion’s inaugural Super Fight heavyweight champion.
One year prior, ‘The Predator’ contested his first professional boxing bout, suffering a razor-thin defeat to Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia after knocking him down with a left hook in the third round.
However, the confidence Ngannou gained from that bout didn’t last long, as he suffered a devastating KO to Anthony Joshua five months later.
“As I said with Francis,” Davis said, speaking with talkSPORT MMA in Dubai.
“One; we’re true partners, we work with him on what’s the best thing for the year.
“It’s one MMA and one boxing, [we decide] what order and what opponents to maximise Francis’ career that year.
“So we’re still in discussions with him, but it will be one boxing and one MMA.
“If you’re going to ask me my guess – it’s Francis’ decision – but I think boxing will come first, MMA will come second.
“His opportunities in boxing right now are through the roof. That would be my guess.”
It is likely the PFL will be working closely with Saudi boxing chief Turku Alalshikh to confirm Ngannou’s next opponent in the ring, as this will likely boost his marketability for future PFL bouts.
Alalshikh has teased at wanting to put on a cross-over fight between Ngannou and UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Just like Ngannou’s striking coach, Dewey Cooper, Alalshikh has also mentioned Deontay Wilder as a potential opponent for the Cameroon native in the squared circle too.
As well as Ngannou, Ditcheva, 26, who is from Sale, Greater Manchester, had huge success – if not even more – in the PFL last year.
Her second-round TKO win over former UFC title challenger Taila Santos marked her fourth victory in an incredible 2024, as numerous MMA outlets named her their Fighter of the Year.
Ditcheva was crowned PFL’s flyweight world champion in November after finishing Santos, subsequently winning $1million too.
She told talkSPORT.com last month that she would do ‘pretty well’ against UFC’s No.1 women’s pound-for-pound fighter Valentina Shevchenko, amid rumours that UFC CEO Dana White has her on his radar.
“We had dinner with Dakota the other night. Dakota’s here tonight as our guest,” Davis added.
“We simply said to Dakota: ‘Seven of ten major MMA organizations named you fighter of the year. Not rookie of the year, not rising star of the year, fighter of the year.
“We want you to be the number one female star on the planet. And we’re going to get behind you to do that. So together, let’s outline a plan, so that that’s achieved.’
“That takes personality, that takes drive, that takes being the best fighter and it takes the company behind you.
“Let’s put all four of those together and do it. That’s what you’re going to see from Dakota.”
Davis concluded that he ‘believes’ Ditcheva will feature on a PFL card in the UK in 2025, alongside former PFL featherweight champion and co-host of talkSPORT MMA’s Uncaged show Brendan Loughnane, who is also from Manchester.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2025/01/30/4092323-82984124-310-310.png)
