Eaton Thatcher
With the kind of numbers being proposed for Mayweather vs. McGregor, it’s no wonder a few UFC fighters are eyeing a switch to the boxing ring. The wild wild west of boxing must seem pretty elusive to many UFC fighters, who are currently forced to take whatever Dana White offers them. The decentralized nature of boxing has many problems, but it does lead to bigger paydays.
So who will be the next to make the leap? Here are our picks.
Odds to sign a boxing contract by year-end 2017:
Conor McGregor: 2/3
If you’re sick of reading about unsubstantiated rumors surrounding Mayweather vs. McGregor, you’re not alone. The potential match-up has dominated MMA and boxing for the last few months to the point of nausea. But, as ridiculous as it is, there’s actually a pretty good chance it will take place. After all, the money is just way too good for anyone to turn down.
However, there’s a lot of parties involved. Mayweather, McGregor, and the UFC all need to come to an agreement on the terms before the fight takes place, and all parties are determined to grab the biggest slice possible. That could cause a bit of a hold-up.
Holly Holm: 4/1
Before switching to MMA, Holly Holm established herself as one of the greatest female welterweight boxers of all time. She had a smooth transition into MMA, winning her first nine fights and then beating Ronda Rousey for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight title. But since then, it has been all downhill for the former champ. She lost her first title defense to Miesha Tate, and two more fights since.
Her future in the UFC is unknown at the moment, but she can always return to her first love.
Nate Diaz: 9/1
It’s no secret Nate Diaz isn’t happy with the UFC’s decision to put him on hold while they wait for Conor McGregor to make his move. The McGregor trilogy fight is where the money is, but the younger Diaz brother is trying to keep his options open. He’s recently filed for a Nevada State boxing license, but we haven’t heard much since.
Anderson Silva: 20/1
Anderson Silva has already sealed his legacy as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. But his reign over the middleweight division is over and the Brazilian showman is now just fighting for love and money. And if it’s the money he’s after, he may be better off taking his striking ability to the ring.
Jorge Masvidal: 40/1
Masvidal has established himself as one of the best boxers in the UFC. But after a huge win over Don Cerrone, he’s got his eyes set on the welterweight title. He would probably do well in the ring, but at the moment he has no reason to leave the UFC.
Photo credit: “Miesha Tate defeats Holly Holm at UFC 196” by SabreBlade [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)].
