Jack Della Maddalena (18-2) is in many conversations for the best boxer in mixed martial arts, but he isn’t interested in the debate. Recently, UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping praised Maddalena and said he’s probably the best boxer in the sport.
During an interview with Newsweek Sports, the UFC Welterweight Champion said he simply can’t accept the applause without pointing out a fact.
“That’s kind of a crazy argument,” Maddalena said. “I’ve never even had a boxing match. How could I be the best boxer? I look at boxing as a sport of its own. Am I one of the best punchers? Maybe. I don’t really ride into that sort of thing too much. Appreciate it, but I think boxing is a completely different sport.”
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Buzz for UFC 322 Fight
Maddalena’s first defense of the 170-pound gold will be against Islam Makhachev, (27-1) who vacated the UFC Lightweight Championship. Maddalena shared the difference between the buildup for his May title fight with Belal Muhammad and his upcoming defense against Makhachev.
“Bigger challenge, harder fight, bigger stage—yeah, I think definitely this fight [has more buzz],” Maddalena said.
‘The Mecca’
For some fighters, venues don’t matter even if they have prestige. That isn’t the case with Maddalena, who has wanted to fight inside Madison Square Garden for quite some time.
“It’s been on the bucket list of places to compete in,” Maddalena said. “They also do the November card here every year. Since I first got into the UFC, I’ve always wanted to try to get on that November card. Just so happens it’s this year. The main event of the big card, so it’s really exciting. What a venue, what a place to fight. I can’t wait.”
Maddalena will finally get his wish on Saturday when he meets Makhachev in New York City. He was very much looking forward to the fight week festivities.
“Yeah, for sure,” Maddalena said. “It’s obviously a big city, a big event. So, yeah, a lot going on, but we’re embracing it.”
Islam Makhachev’s Move Up
With Makhachev moving up in weight, there are some questions over whether or not the power of the 155-pound great will carry over to welterweight. Maddalena is confident that Makhachev won’t run into any issues in that department.
“Yeah, I am,” Maddalena said. “I’m expecting that. New division for him, but he’s probably cutting a lot of weight to get down to lightweight. I definitely feel like this will be probably better for him physically. I think he’ll be one of the stronger welterweights. I definitely expect him to be on the level of welterweights in terms of strength.”
JDM’s Favorite Boxer
While Maddalena isn’t one to pay attention to debates about his boxing, he does have an appreciation for the “sweet science.” He named one boxer that he holds in high regard.
“I’m a big James Toney fan,” Maddalena said. “He’s probably one of my favorite boxers. Some of the best defense ever, for sure.”
State of Welterweight Division
Maddalena’s title fight won’t be the only pivotal 170-pound bout on the card. Sean Brady is set to go one-on-one with Michael Morales. Former UFC Welterweight Champion Leon Edwards is also scheduled to collide with Carlos Prates. The champion from Perth is happy to see the division heating up.
“It’s exciting,” Maddalena said. “After this weekend, the following weekend we’ll have a clear idea of who the next contender is,” Maddalena said. “I think there’s interesting fights. Don’t know how they’re going to go, but I am excited to see them and see who’s going to be next. So, I think it’s an exciting time for the division.”
Speaking to Israel Adesanya
A recent video on Israel Adesanya’s YouTube channel showed the MMA legend having a lengthy conversation with Maddalena. The 170-pound king is grateful to get a chance to pick “The Last Stylebender’s” brain.
“He’s obviously a legend, a real inspiration for me,” Maddalena said. “One of the greatest middleweights, one of the greatest fighters ever. To just be able to chat with someone like that is pretty cool. He’s such a cool, nice guy. So, blessed to be able to converse with someone like him.”
Wipeout at MSG?
If Maddalena gets his hand raised on Saturday, he knows what he hopes the headlines will read the following morning.
“I’m sort of just hoping, like, after the fight, everyone sort of just says, ‘Islam is just a lightweight.’ That would probably be the best-case scenario, I think, if everyone just says, ‘He was just a lightweight. He was never going to win.’ That would be the best scenario, I believe, because then it would just mean I wiped him out.”
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