Many MMA fighters believe they would excel in boxing, and there are boxers who share this sentiment as well. However, boxing heavyweight legend Anthony Joshua has recently proposed that UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira should transition from the cage to the boxing ring.
“On X (formerly Twitter), Joshua expressed his belief that one day Alex Pereira should step into the boxing ring for his debut.”
Although Pereira is not entirely unfamiliar with boxing, his experience in the sport is limited to a single official exhibition match in 2017. In this match, he achieved a TKO victory over Marcelo de Souza Cruz. However, it is important to note that this occurred during the peak of Pereira’s seven-year kickboxing career. Just six months later, he emerged as the champion in the Glory middleweight division, leading him to abandon any aspirations of continuing his pursuit in boxing.
At least for a one-off match, he seems to be more receptive to the idea now.
The options are endless champ. I am sure something can be done. Drop @258mgt a line https://t.co/KxQjwwAqtH
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) July 7, 2024
Pereira expressed gratitude, stating, “I feel honored by your belief in me. While pursuing a career in my dream has been a long-standing aspiration, I am aware that, at 37 years old, it may not be feasible. In light of this, I’d appreciate your suggestion on who I should consider competing against.”
“You’ve got endless options, champ,” Joshua responded. “I’m confident we can find a solution. Just send a message to [258 MGT, Joshua’s agent].”
Is AJ being nice or does he have an interest in fighting Pereira in the future? Unless it’s a distant possibility, we’re not really interested. “Poatan” has now become one of the UFC’s biggest stars, and with the right fights, he could potentially skyrocket to super-stardom in the next year or two.
There’s Jon Jones. There’s the Israel Adesanya trilogy fight. There’s Tom Aspinall. And they all compete in the same sport as Pereira. MMA fighters boxing is an okay sideshow, but it’s getting a bit tired at this point. Diaz vs. Masvidal 2 was great and all … but it would have been better under MMA rules.
What are your thoughts, enthusiasts? Are you curious about witnessing the performance of “Poatan” in the boxing arena?
