Quinton Jackson needs to run it again together with his once-bitter rival and fellow former UFC champ Rashad Evans for his skilled boxing debut.
The previous UFC gentle heavyweight champ “Rampage” Jackson has been searching for a return to fight sports activities in recent times, and has been near securing a boxing match with Shannon Briggs. So shut the truth is, a date was set for June 8 at an occasion titled “Rumble of Titans: Duel within the Desert” that was to happen in Qatar.
Sadly for “Rampage,” his return to motion fizzled after fraud considerations with the promoters, Quantum Sports activities & Media World.
“We was going to do it in Qatar, however the guys that have been placing it on, they ended up being f*cking rip-off artists,” Jackson instructed Joe Rogan on the JRE MMA Present. “I used to be trusting them. I actually appreciated the blokes, they was cool individuals, however quick talkers. Two months earlier than I pulled out, Shannon was like, ‘Man, these guys are scammers, bro.’ I used to be like, ‘Man, you introduced these motherf*ckers to me.’”
In line with Jackson, Briggs was turned off by how issues have been progressing with the occasion promoters, and the battle fell aside. Nevertheless, he says Briggs continues to be engaged on making the matchup come collectively, however ‘Rampage’ gained’t maintain his breath.
Now, “Rampage” is popping his concentrate on working it again with Evans, who defeated Jackson at UFC 114 by unanimous resolution after a heated construct as rival coaches on Season 10 of “The Final Fighter.”
“He and I are speaking about doing a boxing match in opposition to one another in November,” Jackson mentioned. “We’re making an attempt to get that going.”
Jackson continues to be open to combating Briggs, however he’ll go away it as much as the boxer to discover a promoter. Within the meantime, he’ll work towards assembly Evans within the ring, who he admits has turn out to be a pal through the years.
“He’s nonetheless making an attempt, however I misplaced my religion in Shannon,” Jackson mentioned. “I don’t know if he’s going to get it executed. He talks a very good recreation. I hope he get it executed. If he ever will get it executed, I’ll be recreation to battle him, however proper now, I suppose my first boxing match goes to be in opposition to Rashad. I have to get that win again.”
Jackson, 46, was final in motion at Bellator 237 in December 2019, the place he misplaced by first-round stoppage to Fedor Emelianenko. Evans, 44, who has turn out to be an analyst on UFC broadcasts, final competed in January 2022, the place he defeated Gabriel Checco by unanimous resolution in Eagle FC.
Neither former UFC champion has competed in skilled boxing earlier than.
“Rampage” says the occasion is being mentioned to happen in Atlanta underneath the ONE Championship banner, however is ready to listen to from his administration about how issues are progressing. The promotion is internet hosting ONE 169 on Nov. 8 at State Farm Area in Atlanta, which is headlined by a heavyweight title battle between champ Anatoly Malykhin and Oumar Kane.
MMA Junkie reached out to ONE officers for affirmation in regards to the plans for Jackson vs. Evans, however didn’t reply on the time of writing.
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