There is a long line of legends including Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman who won a gold medal in the Olympics and then went on to become world heavyweight champion, the baddest man on the planet. The process still happens – Anthony Joshua won gold in London, and went on to become the unified heavyweight champion. But he’s not the baddest man on the planet, Stipe Miocic is.
Joshua is on record as saying he wouldn’t even want to fight UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor. However, in an interview with Showtime’s All Access as transcribed by Britain’s Sky Sports, Joshua said he was game to try mixed martial arts, sort of.
“I like fighting, I’d do whatever,” said Joshua. “I’d probably get beaten. The only thing that they can’t do is submissions, but they can kick, elbow, whatever they want. Just no submissions.
“I can’t beat a guy [via submission]. That takes a lot of time to learn the skills and submissions, which I don’t have the time for, but when it comes to pure aggression and fighting rules, I can definitely fight, so I don’t mind that.
“It wouldn’t be a problem. If you look at most boxers who’ve crossed over to MMA, they get beaten on the ground. James Toney, phenomenal boxers but just couldn’t compete in the cage because of the ‘ground and pound’ game.”
Joshua also commented on Saturday’s boxing match between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather.
“It’s probably a landslide,” said Joshua. “Look at the great fighters Mayweather’s fought, and he’s made them look average. Some of the fighters Mayweather’s fought would probably beat Conor McGregor as well; Conor can’t really compete.
“He’s coming out of his field and going into Mayweather’s domain. Even though he’s an excellent fighter in UFC, he’s not an excellent boxer. Him crossing over is going to be a real, big challenge.
“He could give a good account of himself; I think Mayweather will win but as long as he [McGregor] gives a good account of himself, it’ll work really well for him.
“I don’t think Mayweather’s done it for the money, I don’t think he needs the money: he’s done well from boxing. Conor was calling him out and people were saying they wanted to see the fight. The fans dictate the fight: if they want to see it, they get it. You can’t fight with a pay cheque, you can only fight with heart: that’s the only thing that gets you through tough times.”
