Once upon a time, a highly-regarded, former world champion boxer tried his hand in the Octagon. James Toney lasted until 3:19, and he never threw a punch. It was no surprise – boxing’s first three-division world champion Bob Fitzsimmons said nine times out of 10 a wrestler will beat a boxer. And he’s been dead for over 100 years. The wrestling that Fitzsimmons referenced has now evolved to an extraordinary extent in mixed martial arts. It’s not 9 out of 10 times now, it’s 10 out of 10.
However, during a recent JRE MMA Show, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan said that the greatest boxer of his generation, Floyd Mayweather Jr, has been in talks with the UFC about competing in the Octagon.
“Floyd talked about it. This is one thing I can tell you,” said Rogan, as transcribed by Ryan Harkness for MMA Mania. “Dana told me that Floyd wants to make a deal in the UFC. Like legitimately. I texted him, I go ‘Is Floyd really talking about fighting MMA?’ He goes ‘Yeah, he’s f***ing crazy. I told him he’d get killed. But he’s still talking about doing it.’”
Mayweather referenced the discussion recently, and said he thought he could make a billion dollars in the UFC.
“You already know I’m a money-getting motherf***er, said Mayweather. I’m Money May. They just called me not too long ago and asked me to come back. I can come right back. If I want to, I can come right back to the UFC. I can go fight in the Octagon. I can do a three- or four-fight deal in the Octagon and make a billion dollars. Remember, I’m Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, and you motherf***ers love me, and I love you motherf***ers.”
At the end of the day, I’m the best athlete ever.
Money may be right. Maybe he’s the best athlete ever. But he can’t win in the Octagon against the least fighter at featherweight, unless he maybe enters the women’s division.
