The period of influencer boxing has drawn lots of criticism from pugilist purists. Some consider it has been a black eye on the game, however it’s prolonged the careers of some combined martial artists.
Jake Paul alone has confronted former UFC fighters Ben Askren, Nate Diaz, Mike Perry, and former UFC champions Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou landed mega bouts towards Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Jorge Masvidal and Darren Until, amongst others, have made the leap.
Having already been promoted by the UFC, MMA fighters with family names can reduce in line so to talk to land high-profile and profitable boxing matchups. Former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is serious about boxing after his time in MMA is completed.
“Yeah, it pursuits me for certain. Actually,” Whittaker mentioned on the MMArcade Podcast when requested if he’d think about transitioning to boxing after his UFC profession.
“It undoubtedly pursuits me particularly like not should undergo the boxing circuit the way in which like lots of guys did. If I can transfer straight as much as these, what are you going to name them? What sort of fights are these? They’re just like the UFC guys coming into boxing doing … These kind of fights. You understand what I am speaking about.”
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“I feel there’s some cash to be made there,” continued Whittaker. “I feel it’s going to preserve me match. I feel it is undoubtedly a facet of the game that I get pleasure from. I’ve all the time cherished hanging. To maneuver into that subject can be cool. It might be a pleasant, contemporary change.”
Whittaker, 35, final fought in July, dropping to Reinier de Ridder through cut up determination. He received the 185-pound championship in July 2017 by defeating Yoel Romero through unanimous determination. Romero missed weight for the rematch, so Whittaker by no means really defended the title. He defeated Romero a second time however in a non-title bout. He was defeated by former two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya in his subsequent outing ending his transient title reign.
