Here we go again…
Here we go again: another UFC fighter talking about stepping into boxing. This time it’s Tom Aspinall, the UFC interim heavyweight champion, who’s dropped hints about a potential boxing switch after spending time training with Tyson Fury.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a lot of respect for Aspinall. He’s one of the most talented heavyweights MMA has produced in years. But let’s be honest—training in a boxing gym and actually competing in a professional ring are two completely different things.
Why fighters keep looking at boxing
It always comes down to the same thing: money. The pay gap between UFC and boxing has been talked about for years. Boxers at the top end, like Canelo Álvarez or Anthony Joshua, are making life-changing purses. Compare that to even UFC champions, and you start to see why someone like Tom Aspinall might be tempted by a boxing switch.
Francis Ngannou is the prime example. He walked away from the UFC, fought Tyson Fury, and even though he lost, he earned more in one night than he did in most of his MMA career combined. That alone explains why the crossover conversation keeps coming back.
But history doesn’t lie
Here’s the thing: it almost never works. When boxers cross into MMA, they get torn apart. When MMA fighters try boxing, they look out of their depth. The rules are different, the pace is different, the stance is different.
Look back at Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather. It made headlines, sure. It made money, definitely. But McGregor never stood a chance against a seasoned pro. Ngannou gave Fury a scare, but one good night doesn’t mean he’s suddenly a world-class boxer. And Aspinall, as skilled as he is, would find the same mountain to climb.
Aspinall’s unique case
That said, Aspinall isn’t Francis Ngannou. He’s quicker, sharper on his feet, and technically sound. He’s trained with Fury before, which at least means he’s tested himself against elite boxing skill in sparring. If he ever did make the switch, he might adapt better than others.
But here’s the question: why risk it? He’s already on the verge of becoming a dominant UFC heavyweight. A Tom Aspinall boxing switch would be more about the payday than the legacy—and that’s fine, if that’s what he’s after. But it’s worth asking if he’d be remembered as the champ who ruled the Octagon, or the guy who got schooled in someone else’s sport.
Why it matters for both sports
The danger is that these crossover fights keep watering down boxing. Every time a UFC star steps into the ring, it grabs attention—but it also distracts from proper boxing match-ups we actually want to see. For Aspinall, it might be a win-win financially. For boxing, though? It’s another circus act when the sport is crying out for credibility and consistency.
If Aspinall does it, fair play. But let’s not pretend it’s anything other than a business decision. And that’s why fans—both MMA and boxing—are starting to roll their eyes.
Final thoughts
A Tom Aspinall boxing switch isn’t impossible. He’s young, talented, and has the name to sell tickets. But the reality is, he’ll likely discover what everyone before him already has: boxing and MMA are not interchangeable.
Maybe he shocks the world, maybe he cashes out, or maybe he ends up just another name on the list of “what ifs.” Whatever happens, it’s a storyline that’s hard to ignore.
Your turn
What do you reckon—should Aspinall stay in the UFC or roll the dice in boxing? Drop your thoughts in the comments, share this piece with a mate, and check out more takes like this over at CMBoxing.