Israel Adesanya Explains Why He’s Uninterested In Boxing Career

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has no interest in pursuing a career in boxing.

As of late, mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters have shown a great aspiration for challenging top names in boxing inside the squared circle. However, speaking on a recent episode of “Ebro In The Morning,” Adesanya was asked about a potential boxing career.

“Stylebender” made it clear he’s going to end his career in MMA, and doesn’t want to have skillset limited inside the boxing ring. (H/T The Body Lock)

“This is where I’m going to end my career,” Adesanya said. “It’s silly. Why would I come to the proving ground of all fighting — the UFC — and then afterward, fight a guy and take away like 80 percent of my weapons. I just want to kick people.

“I want to strangle someone. I can’t do that in boxing. I don’t want to get into the clinch and then okay, break. Same thing with kickboxing, same thing with jiu-jitsu, same thing with judo, same thing with wrestling, they’re all limited styles of fighting.”

Adesanya went on to discuss people who claim the top boxer in the world, such as Canelo Alvarez, is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. However, the Nigerian-born champion explains that there’s a big difference between boxers and true fighters.

“Everyone throws that greatest fighter, pound-for-pound, is Canelo [Alvarez],” Adesanya said. “He’s the pound-for-pound — maybe —greatest boxer right now. Not fighter. You have to test yourself against another style.

“People say, ‘oh, after UFC, you can go to boxing and have one super fight maybe with Canelo and make a hundred million’. I’m like, I can do that in the UFC. I might be the first fighter to do that in the UFC.””

What do you think about Adesanya shutting down talk of a boxing run?