Former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski flirts with the idea of another boxing run

Leading up to his UFC on FOX 23 showdown against Francis Ngannou, Andrei Arlovski admits he’d like to give boxing another shot.

Andrei Arlovski is one of the most experienced fighters still slinging leather in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight division, with a career that spans all the way back to 1999. Over that time, he’s had his ups and downs, the worst being a four-fight losing skid between 2009 and 2011 that had a lot of people thinking ‘Pitbull’ should pack it in.

But, Arlovski persevered and turned things around, going 10-1-1 over the next four years. In fact, last year started out with Arlovksi on the cusp of a Heavyweight title shot, but instead he ended up going winless (0-3) against a rough run of opponents in now-champ Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, and Josh Barnett. During a media scrum earlier today leading into his do-or-die fight at UFC on FOX 23 Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2017) against Francis Ngannou, the Belarusian sounded like he was trying to keep the losses in perspective.

“It sucks for me — I was miserable,” Arlovski said. “Good thing I lost to everyone that was in front of me. One guy, Stipe Miocic, he became a champion, he’s the champion right now. And Overeem fought for the title.”

As for agreeing to face off with an up and coming prospect like Ngannou, someone who certainly brings more risk than reward, Arlovski shrugged and said it’s the reality of the position he landed himself in with his recent run of losses.

“Listen, I’m not in that position to pick someone,” he said. “I lost three fights in a row. 2016 was a sucks year for me. I’m an employee of the UFC, I’m fighting for the UFC. They want me to fight Francis Ngannou, I’m gonna fight him.”

An attitude in short supply amongst UFC fighters these days, it seems.

Arlovski also dished on a potential return to the boxing ring, which was prompted when asked about his thoughts of Conor McGregor’s boxing ambitions. In 2009, Arlovski teamed up with promoter Golden Boy in an effort to build up a fight with one of the Klitschko brothers, but two losses in the ring killed those plans.

“I’m very excited, obviously if it’s gonna happen, McGregor, it’s gonna be an interesting fight for him,” Arlovski said. “And we’ll see, maybe one day I’m gonna box too. Maybe. Why not, you know?”

But don’t think this is something on the immediate horizon for the Pitbull.

“It’s not going to happen any time soon, you know? You have to be serious about it if it’s something you want to do.”

It sounds like Arlovski intends on continuing to fight one way or another, regardless of how Saturday’s match with Ngannou goes.

Leading up to his UFC on FOX 23 showdown against Francis Ngannou, Andrei Arlovski admits he’d like to give boxing another shot.

Andrei Arlovski is one of the most experienced fighters still slinging leather in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight division, with a career that spans all the way back to 1999. Over that time, he’s had his ups and downs, the worst being a four-fight losing skid between 2009 and 2011 that had a lot of people thinking ‘Pitbull’ should pack it in.

But, Arlovski persevered and turned things around, going 10-1-1 over the next four years. In fact, last year started out with Arlovksi on the cusp of a Heavyweight title shot, but instead he ended up going winless (0-3) against a rough run of opponents in now-champ Stipe Miocic, Alistair Overeem, and Josh Barnett. During a media scrum earlier today leading into his do-or-die fight at UFC on FOX 23 Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2017) against Francis Ngannou, the Belarusian sounded like he was trying to keep the losses in perspective.

“It sucks for me — I was miserable,” Arlovski said. “Good thing I lost to everyone that was in front of me. One guy, Stipe Miocic, he became a champion, he’s the champion right now. And Overeem fought for the title.”

As for agreeing to face off with an up and coming prospect like Ngannou, someone who certainly brings more risk than reward, Arlovski shrugged and said it’s the reality of the position he landed himself in with his recent run of losses.

“Listen, I’m not in that position to pick someone,” he said. “I lost three fights in a row. 2016 was a sucks year for me. I’m an employee of the UFC, I’m fighting for the UFC. They want me to fight Francis Ngannou, I’m gonna fight him.”

An attitude in short supply amongst UFC fighters these days, it seems.

Arlovski also dished on a potential return to the boxing ring, which was prompted when asked about his thoughts of Conor McGregor’s boxing ambitions. In 2009, Arlovski teamed up with promoter Golden Boy in an effort to build up a fight with one of the Klitschko brothers, but two losses in the ring killed those plans.

“I’m very excited, obviously if it’s gonna happen, McGregor, it’s gonna be an interesting fight for him,” Arlovski said. “And we’ll see, maybe one day I’m gonna box too. Maybe. Why not, you know?”

But don’t think this is something on the immediate horizon for the Pitbull.

“It’s not going to happen any time soon, you know? You have to be serious about it if it’s something you want to do.”

It sounds like Arlovski intends on continuing to fight one way or another, regardless of how Saturday’s match with Ngannou goes.