Israel Adesanya has no interest in boxing.
In a world where MMA fighters are always looking to cash in inside the squared circle, ‘The Last Stylebender’ is perfectly content putting his craft on display inside the Octagon rather than in a boxing round.
In a video released on the two-time titleholder’s YouTube channel, Adesanya can be seen talking to top-ranked WBC heavyweight superstar Anthony Joshua ahead of his matchup with Otto Wallin at the Day of Reckoning event in Riyadh late last year. Asked about moving into boxing, the ‘Stylebender’ revealed he has a financial figure in mind that would secure his services for a fight in the sweet science, but he can’t imagine anyone actually paying it.
“Bro, I’m good,” Adesanya said, before revealing that an unnamed promoter had called him about a boxing bout. “I already did (box). The money’s too much for them to get me back. I just feel like I’ve already done that, and right now, the UFC’s looking after me pretty well.
“There is a number, but I don’t think these guys are willing to pay it,” he added.
Before becoming one of the UFC’s top draws, Israel Adesanya was an accomplished boxer and kickboxer, winning back-to-back Super 8 Boxing tournaments as a cruiser and the 2016 GLORY Kickboxing middleweight contender tournament.
Anthony Joshua Returns to the Boxing Ring for a Showdown with Ex-UFC Champion Francis Ngannou
On Friday, March 8, Anthony Joshua will return to the ring for a showdown with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. ‘The Predator’ makes his sophomore appearance in boxing after delivering a critically acclaimed performance against WBC heavyweight king Tyson Fury in October. Though Ngannou came up short via razor-close and highly contestable split decision, his showing was good enough to justify placing him in the WBC heavyweight top ten.
With a win over Anthony Joshua, Ngannou could set the stage for a rematch with ‘The Gypsy King.’
Watch the full video below:
