Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has opened the door to a potential move into mixed martial arts, suggesting boxers should start competing in other combat sports after years of watching MMA fighters step into the boxing ring.
Joshua, who delivered a devastating knockout over ex-UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou in a 2024 boxing match, said the rise of crossover events has sparked his curiosity about fighting under a different set of rules.
“Honestly, I’ve been thinking — why not go into their world? They keep coming into ours,” Joshua told The Ring.
The British-Nigerian star, however, admitted that making the leap would be no small feat, acknowledging the elite skills of top MMA and kickboxing athletes.
“We’re talking about the very best in their own sport. These aren’t rookies — they’re seasoned, dangerous fighters. But it would be exciting to see one of us go over there and find out how we measure up.”
Joshua argued that a serious boxer transitioning to MMA would draw massive attention, even though boxing traditionally offers bigger paydays.
“Fans love competition. They’d pay to see a top-level boxer test himself against an MMA or kickboxing specialist. You’d have to be smart — pick the right opponent, the right style. But it can work. I think it’s the next frontier we all want to witness.”
The 2012 Olympic gold medalist brushed off past failures by boxers who tried MMA, including James Toney’s lopsided loss to Randy Couture at UFC 118 in 2010.
“James wasn’t in the shape he needed to be for that fight,” Joshua said. He acknowledged that grappling, submissions, and other MMA elements would pose serious problems for pure boxers. “Those guys know exactly what they’re doing in there.”
For now, Joshua remains focused on boxing, with a July 25 clash against Kristian Prenga on the horizon and a long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury still looming large. But he made clear he’ll be watching closely for the first brave boxer to make a real move into the cage.
“They keep crossing over into our sport. It’ll be fascinating to see who’s the first to go into theirs,” Joshua said.
