Celebrity boxing, combat sports crossover matchups, crazy fights. Hop in the way back machine and go back to a time where Anderson Silva was in his prime and an elder statesman of boxing in Roy Jones Jr. wanted a combat sports crossover event to happen. The only problem is that event never happened, both men declined in their careers, and now we may never get it.
The only way combat sports fans can ever hope for it to happen is with both agreeing to a fight and continuing this influx of combat sports crossover events.
We have seen veterans and all-time greats like Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and the aforementioned Anderson Silva compete for years. All three men have found success and in their success, they have fired up veterans across boxing and MMA like Oscar De La Hoya, Vitor Belfort and Evander Holyfield.
It has got the creative and combat juices flowing to where fans can now think “What matchups would make for a fun fight?” and the good news is there are several matchups that make sense and would provide some major entertainment.
Holly Holm vs. Laila Ali
Laila Ali retired from professional boxing in 2007 and has since been involved with several media outlets as well as making surprise appearances at events. That being said though, her boxing record of 24-0 is nothing to besmirch, she was every bit one of the best female boxers pound for pound in her prime.
Before Holly Holm jumped over to MMA and shook up the world with her head kick knockout of Ronda Rousey she was a top-level female boxer. She herself had a record 33-2 and won two major belts in her career before making the combat sports crossover.
Holm appears to be on the back end of her career and while she does provide a serious test for anyone she faces in MMA and a boxing match between these two champions would make for must-see TV.
Georges St. Pierre vs. Manny Pacquiao
Hall of fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach has trained both of these men in the past and still trains Manny Pacquiao as he prepares for his world title bout against Errol Spence. It was reported that Dana White had squashed the potential Georges St. Pierre and De Le Hoya boxing match so we know GSP is game and after his bout with Spence, Pacquiao may be as well. If it was anyone other than De La Hoya, White may have approved it but we know they have never seen eye to eye.
Pacquiao will be 43 by the end of the year and he doesn’t have a lot of gas left in his boxing tank, but for a fighter who is always in need of more money based on his lifestyle, Pacquiao may be down for something like this. St. Pierre seems to be itching for some competition and as an exhibition, this would be a blast to watch.
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tomasz Adamek
MMA fans are well acquainted with “The Last Emperor” but they may not be with former IBF and Ring cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek.
Adamek last fought in a boxing ring in 2018 against Jarrell Miller in a losing effort, prior to that though he hadn’t lost since 2016 but overall he has a record of 53-6 with 31 knockouts. He challenged for the WBC heavyweight title against the older of the Klitschko Brothers in the form of Vitali Klitschko but he would lose that chance at the belt and become a gatekeeper of sorts for the division for years.
Emelianenko has become a proud piece of propaganda for Vladimir Putin and as he wraps up his career so why not sign up for a combat sports cross-over event in Russia? It would serve as one last hurrah for his leader and a way to show he is one of the greatest fighters in the history of combat sports and would bring tons of eyeballs to it.
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