Robert Whittaker has not closed the door on competition beyond mixed martial arts. While attending the Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul boxing event in Miami, the former UFC middleweight champion watched familiar figures from the MMA world compete under boxing rules. One moment in particular stood out when Anderson Silva stopped Tyron Woodley, reminding many fighters that success outside the octagon is possible later in a career.
That bout added to a growing list of MMA veterans who have crossed into boxing, including Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson, and Jorge Masvidal. For Whittaker, seeing those transitions firsthand helped confirm that boxing could be a realistic option once his UFC run is complete.
Why boxing appeals to Whittaker
During a recent episode of the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker openly shared his thoughts on a potential move into boxing after MMA.
“Yeah, it interests me for sure, certainly,” Whittaker said. “It definitely interests me, especially not actually having to go through the boxing circuit the way a lot of guys did. If I can move straight up to these … UFC guys coming into boxing doing those sort of fights. You know what I’m talking about.
“I think there’s some money to be made there. I think it’ll keep me fit. I think it’s definitely an aspect of the sport that I enjoy. I’ve always loved striking. To move into that field would be cool. It would be a nice, fresh change.”
Whittaker explained that the attraction goes beyond competition alone. He views boxing as a way to remain active, focus on a skill set he enjoys, and explore new challenges without the grind of starting from the bottom of a traditional boxing path.
Whittaker remains an active UFC competitor and has not announced any plans to step away from MMA. His most recent appearance came at UFC on ABC 9, where he lost a split decision to Reinier de Ridder. That result followed an earlier defeat, but before those setbacks, Whittaker recorded consecutive victories over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov.
If Whittaker eventually enters the boxing world, he would be following a route increasingly taken by former UFC champions. Anderson Silva’s recent performance showed that established MMA strikers can still draw interest and deliver results under boxing rules.
For now, Whittaker remains focused on mixed martial arts. Still, when his UFC chapter eventually closes, he sees boxing not as a novelty, but as a meaningful and enjoyable next step rather than a distant possibility.
