Yesterday, I wrote an article where I listed 10 great fighters who all boxing fans should enjoy while they still have the opportunity as those men are all within three or four years of their likely retirements.
When I had finished the article, I was left thinking that, without those fighters, boxing would be severely lacking in star power.
I spent some time going through the different divisions and trying to think of who could fill the void which will be created by the departures of those star names and came up with the obvious names such as Nonito Donaire, Saul Alvarez, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Andre Ward.
While those four fighters are wonderful talents and have the potential to be big draws, especially the Mexican duo, I don’t think they will quite be able to sell PPVs like people such as Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.
Tonight, I was watching UFC 138 and heard Mike Goldberg talking about Brad Pickett’s boxing skills, which got me to thinking about what fighters currently on the UFC roster could successfully make the transition to boxing.
While many MMA fans will say that there’s no reason for any top UFC fighter to make a move to boxing, there is one reason that stands out a mile.
Money.
Loving legal tender is something that the top UFC fighters can earn plenty of if they are successful, but not anywhere close to the amounts they could earn in boxing. The UFC is the best paying organization in all of MMA, but even its top fighters make only a fraction of what their boxing counterparts take home.
Having studied the UFC roster and picked out the fighters who, in my opinion, have the best chance to make the transition I thought I’d put together a quick piece listing the top five who could have the most success.
I hope you enjoy.
P.S. I’m not sure why I have a picture of Don King up there, either.