Can MMA Fighters Box?

Ever since Mayweather V McGregor was announced and even before that, a number of people have been asking how can an MMA fighter compete with a boxer? What you have to remember is that this is not the first time we’ve seen an MMA fighter taking on a boxer. Here are just a few examples:

Muhammad Ali V Antonio Inoki

In 1972 the then unified world champion Muhammad Ali took on Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki, this fight was fought under rules made just for this fight. It is not fully known why these rules were used, professional wrestler Bret Hart who at the time worked for Inoki claimed in his book that it was because Inoki had received death threats from some of Ali’s backers if he hurt Ali. Whatever the reasons the rules are believed to have included that Inoki couldn’t throw or grapple and he could only use his feet when he had one knee on the mat. These rules could have been the reason why the fight was so farcical. With Inoki just laying on his back for the whole fight trying to kick Ali. The fight ended in a boring draw.

Art Jimmerson V Royce Gracie

Nobody knew what was going to happen in this one as journeyman boxer Jimmerson took on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter Gracie. In the fight Jimmerson wore just the one boxing glove as he seemed prepared to grapple with Gracie, however his plan didn’t work to well as Gracie got him on the mat and made him submit with a choke hold.

James Toney V Randy Couture

In 2010 three weight world champion James Toney made the move to the UFC and took on Randy Couture. When the fight started it was obvious that Toney didn’t have a clue what he was doing as it took Couture just 15 seconds to get him on the mat before he choke him out 3 minutes into the fight.

Ok the big difference with these fights compared to Mayweather and McGregor is that none of them were fought under purely boxing rules However I think you can see from these examples an MMA fighter can more than hold their own against a boxer. It will be interesting to see what will happen under boxing rules.

Comment below and let me know what you think.