UFC color commentator Joe Rogan isn’t opposed to the idea of Kamaru Usman boxing Canelo Alvarez.
Usman is the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion. He has been adamant about trying to make a boxing match with Canelo happen. The Mexican superstar is widely considered to be the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world. Most feel it would be a significant mismatch if Usman was in a boxing ring with Canelo.
Despite this, Rogan has one key reason why he’d like to see the matchup come to fruition.
Joe Rogan Vouches For Canelo vs. Usman
Joe Rogan appeared on Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson and he said he hopes Kamaru Usman gets his wish simply for the massive payday (h/t MMAJunkie.com).
“I would like to see him fight Canelo. I really would. Not because I think that he’s a favorite in a boxing match against one of the greatest boxers of all time, but I want to see him get a giant payday. The same way I would like to see (Francis) Ngannou fight Tyson Fury.
“That’s a way you can make a sh*t load of money, and I don’t think it damages his potential as a UFC fighter. I think it would be invaluable experience for him as a champion if he did have that fight and then came back over to MMA. I think he’d probably be even better as a striker if he gets through it relatively undamaged, even if he loses.”
Both Usman and Alvarez are top ranked fighters in their respective sports, and while Rogan admits it is not going to be easy for Usman.
“He’s gonna feel some pain,” Rogan said. “It’s not the same sport, but he’s a dude that knows how to win. You have to understand this guy’s mindset. His knees are destroyed. His knees are f*cked, but he doesn’t care. He just doesn’t run, but he never runs out of cardio. Everything he does is just drive. It’s all plyometrics and all the strength and conditioning sh*t he does in the gym. He’s doing it with f*cked-up knees. All the wrestling drills, he’s doing it with f*cked-up knees.”
We’ve seen a mega crossover bout in the past. Back in Aug. 2017, Conor McGregor took on Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match. Mayweather won the bout via 10th-round TKO.
Many believe that Floyd carried Conor and purposely made the fight exciting rather than a one-sided thrashing. While Canelo is a savvy businessman himself, many believe he simply has too much pride to allow Usman to hang in there.
