Pereira says boxing's always been his 'dream' after viral Joshua tweet
UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is leaving the door open to potentially boxing one day - and he's asking one of the sport's biggest stars to suggest possible opponents.
Boxing star Anthony Joshua tweeted Saturday that Pereira should consider a boxing match. The Brazilian replied, saying, "It's always been my dream."
I’m honored you think so. It’s always been my dream, I’m 37 I cannot make a career in it so who do you recommend I fight? https://t.co/SuERao5At1
— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) July 6, 2024
One of the bigger stars in MMA, Pereira recently defeated Jiri Prochazka via TKO at UFC 303 to keep his UFC light heavyweight belt. Pereira floored Prochazka with a left high kick before finishing him with punches on the ground in his second light heavyweight title defense.
"Poatan" - who's won his last four fights - is 7-1 since joining the UFC. He turns 37 on July 7. He held the UFC middleweight championship before losing it to Israel Adesanya in April 2023.
It's unclear when Pereira will step into the Octagon next, but UFC CEO Dana White has expressed some interest in a trilogy bout between Pereira and Adesanya if the latter regains the middleweight title at UFC 305 in August versus Dricus Du Plessis.
Several MMA stars have recently traded the Octagon for the boxing ring, including Francis Ngannou, Jorge Masvidal, and Nate Diaz.