Anthony Joshua has encouraged two-weight UFC champion Alex Pereira to transition to boxing.
The Brazilian successfully defended his light-heavyweight title with a spectacular knockout victory over Jiri Prochazka recently, further bolstering his impressive fighting record.
Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion, reached out to Pereira via social media, suggesting, “Alex Pereira should consider making his boxing debut someday.”
Pereira has rapidly risen to stardom in the UFC, capturing world titles in two weight classes since his debut in the octagon in 2021.
“I’m honoured you think so,” Pereira said in response to Joshua. “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 responded by highlighting the “wide range of possibilities,” encouraging Pereira to contact his management team regarding a potential switch to boxing.
Earlier this year, Pereira headlined UFC 300 and stepped in on short notice to replace Conor McGregor as the main event at UFC 303.
He would not be the first MMA star to venture into boxing recently. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou faced Tyson Fury and Joshua in the boxing ring.
Ngannou, aged 37, impressed in his professional boxing debut against Fury, going the distance with the then-undefeated heavyweight before being knocked out by Joshua in just two rounds in March.
Pereira moved from kickboxing to MMA and has hinted at moving up to heavyweight after claiming titles in both light-heavyweight and middleweight divisions.
Ngannou has repeatedly mentioned that boxing offers significantly larger fight purses than the UFC, prompting his departure from MMA to pursue a boxing career.