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Joshua eyes MMA cage after boxing triumphs
4 Jun
Summary
- Anthony Joshua is contemplating a switch to MMA.
- He recently knocked out Francis Ngannou in boxing.
- Past boxing stars had mixed success in MMA.
Boxing heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is considering a venture into mixed martial arts. Following his recent knockout win against Francis Ngannou in March 2026, Joshua voiced his curiosity about competing in MMA. He pondered why fighters from other combat sports, like MMA and kickboxing, consistently enter boxing rings, suggesting a reciprocal move might be beneficial.
Joshua referenced the crossover bout between kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven and Oleksandr Usyk in 2026. While acknowledging that MMA or kickboxing crossovers might not command the same financial scale as boxing, he believes strategic matchups could yield significant results. He emphasized that boxing remains the pinnacle of combat sports.
Reflecting on past transitions, Joshua recalled Holly Holm's successful UFC championship win and James Toney's challenging experience against Randy Couture. These examples serve as case studies for Joshua as he contemplates potentially being the first prominent boxer to cross over into MMA.
