Surprise! Boxing star Anthony Joshua is considering a move to MMA and is encouraging crossovers between the sports.

Joshua promotes boxing match. Photo: Reproduction/X/anthonyjoshua

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One of the biggest names in boxing history, Anthony Joshua is ready to embark on new adventures in combat sports. In December, in Miami (USA), the Englishman faced YouTuber Jake Paul in a highly publicized fight and won via brutal knockout in the sixth round. Now, following the trajectory of several MMA fighters, the boxing star is looking to take the opposite path.

It's no secret that many of the big names in MMA, seduced by the lucrative purses, express a desire to migrate to boxing, and some even manage to step into the ring. Conor McGregor and Francis Ngannou are prime examples. On the other hand, boxers are comfortable and dismiss the idea of ​​trying themselves in mixed martial arts. But Joshua believes it's time to change the course of history.

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So much so that the athlete, accustomed to starring in big fights, surprised everyone by revealing that he is considering trying his hand at MMA and encouraged the crossover between sports. It's worth noting that, in addition to Joshua's interest, Tyson Fury has already trained mixed martial arts with Darren Till , and Deontay Wilder has been mentioned as a possible opponent for Ngannou in the PFL. In any case, Joshua, when comparing the disciplines, praised boxing.

“Believe me, I was thinking: why not go into their territory, since they keep coming to ours? Obviously, this is a big deal. It’s professional boxing, it’s heavyweight boxing. We’re talking about the best in their respective fields. MMA, kickboxing. They’re not amateurs, they’re experienced fighters. It would be good if one of us went into that area and saw how we would do there,” said the boxing legend while participating in the 'Mr. Verzace' podcast.

“Even if I were to move into MMA, it wouldn’t be as big a deal as their entry into boxing. Boxing is simply the pinnacle of combat sports. I would certainly like to have a well-known opponent. MMA, kickboxing, or boxing, it means it’s a big deal. It can be done, I believe it should be done. I think that’s the next thing we want to see. These guys keep coming to our territory. It will be interesting to see who will be the first to cross over into their territory,” he concluded.

AJ's fighters in boxing

Anthony Joshua, 36, is one of the best and most popular boxers today. The Englishman won the gold medal at the London Olympics (UK) in 2012 and was a world heavyweight champion in several companies.

Throughout his boxing career, the athlete won 29 fights, 26 by knockout, and lost four times. His main victories were over Andy Ruiz Jr., Dillian Whyte, Francis Ngannou , Jake Paul , Joseph Parker, and Wladimir Klitschko.

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