Aldo wants to start a career in boxing
It used to be that fighters developed a base in an established combat sport like wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, or…
It used to be that fighters developed a base in an established combat sport like wrestling, boxing, Muay Thai, or boxing, and then took those skills to the cage. However, three high-profile names have recently said they want to take their skills into the boxing ring.
The first was UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor, who wants to fight Floyd Mayweather. Then the great Nate Diaz wanted into the ring. And now UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo says he’s interested. The announcement came during a recent appearance on Brazil’s TV Combate.
“First of all, it’s not about money. I want to keep it clear,” said Aldo, as transcribed byGuilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting. “Thank God the UFC and MMA gave me a lot of stuff. Yes, I think about having a career in boxing, but I want to start from the bottom, start from zero. I want to get ranked and one day fight for a belt. I don’t want to fight just to fight, for money, to go after big fights and challenge a great champion.
“I respect every boxer, but I want to start from the bottom. I want a career in boxing. That was my biggest dream, to one day become champion in MMA and boxing. That is my biggest dream.
Aldo was asked about McGregor boxing plans.
“I hope Conor gets f***ed,” said Aldo. “That’s what matters to me. I don’t give a damn about him. I’ve already said he’s s***, so what he does or doesn’t do, I don’t care. I worry about myself. I’m training to defend my belt. I want to fly higher.”
Aldo’s coach and manager Andre Pederneiras also appeared on the program and said his fighter hopes to be back in the Octagon in late April or early May. They had offered to have Aldo fight Khabib Nurmagomedov at lightweight for the interim title created by the absence of division champion Conor McGregor. Notorious is taking a break until May when he and longtime partner Dee Devlin are expecting the birth of a son. Pederneiras said Khabib’s father declined the fight.
Nurmagomedov now fights Tony Ferguson for the interim belt at UFC 209 on March 4. Aldo wants to win as many fights as he has to to get a rematch with McGregor. And he wants to become a boxing world champion.
