46-6 professional boxer and undefeated lightweight boxing champion Shane Mosley is one of the few elite boxers that not only likes the UFC, he also has thought about entering the Octagon. Unlike recent dud James Toney, Mosley seems smart enough to realise world class striking skills aren’t enough to capture gold at the highest levels of mixed martial arts, and he expressed during a recent live chat with Fanhouse readers:
“I was thinking about trying it, but they have the advantage in the wrestling and takedowns. They’re totally different sports. I’ve definitely thought about it. If a boxer doesn’t have training in mixed martial arts, fighting on the ground, they’re not going to win. You have to do more than throw a punch. I think the UFC is great, there are great fights coming up there, I support it. I like Rampage Jackson a lot because I know him and I’ve admired Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture.”
There’s no chance of seeing an elite boxer in the UFC or any MMA promotion for that matter until the purses become close to what these guys are making. In the meantime it’s still fun to speculate on how a prime boxer would do, but it’s only that..speculation.