2<\/p>\n Joshua knocked out Ngannou when MMA met boxing in 2023Credit: GETTY<\/p>\n Interest in interdisciplinary bouts reached a new high last month when kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven came within a whisker of dethroning lineal heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, Joshua is considering the possibility of stepping into the cage.<\/p>\n \u201cBelieve me, I was thinking, why don\u2019t I step over into one of their territories, because they keep on coming to our territory?\u201d Joshua told Ring Magazine.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, this is big business. It\u2019s big boxing, it\u2019s heavyweight boxing. You are talking about the best in their chosen field. <\/p>\n READ MORE ON BOXING <\/p>\n “MMA, kickboxing. These aren\u2019t amateurs; these are actually experienced fighters. <\/p>\n “It would be good if one of us went into that side and we see how we get on over there…<\/p>\n \u201c100 percent [I\u2019d want a name opponent].<\/p>\n \u201cSo that means it\u2019s big business then. MMA<\/a>, kickboxing, or boxing. It can be done, I believe it should be done. <\/p>\n “I think that will be the next thing that we want to see.\u201d<\/p>\n For the most part, it has been combat sports athletes from other disciplines switching to boxing.<\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Interest in crossover clashes has never been higher in the aftermath of Usyk vs VerhoevenCredit: AFP<\/p>\n And Joshua believes that is purely for commerical reasons. <\/p>\n \u201cSo even if let\u2019s say, Anthony Joshua\u2014speaking in third person\u2014was to cross over into MMA, it wouldn\u2019t be as big as them coming over into boxing,\u201d Joshua added. <\/p>\n \u201cBoxing is just the pinnacle of combat sport.\u201d<\/p>\n Boxers that have competed in MMA<\/p>\n That isn’t to say that boxers haven’t turned their hand to MMA.<\/p>\n Holly Holm<\/a> famously crossed over to MMA and snatched the UFC bantamweight title from Ronda Rousey<\/a> after a glittering professional boxing career that saw her claim world titles in three seperate weight classes. <\/p>\n Former WBO heavyweight champion Ray Mercer also knocked out former UFC heavyweight titlist Tim Sylvia<\/a> during a brief stint in MMA, while Amanda Serrano, Claressa Shields<\/a> and Savannah Marshall have all competed in PFL.<\/p>\n Read More on talkSPORT<\/p>\n James Toney, on the other hand, was given a rude awakening when he challenged UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture<\/a> with minimal training in 2010.<\/p>\n Watch Boxing on DAZN<\/p>\n *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue<\/p>\n Sign up to DAZN<\/a> to access the definitive subscription for boxing fans.<\/p>\n Upgrade to DAZN Ultimate<\/a> from just \u00a324.99\/month, guaranteeing access to 185+ fights annually, a minimum of 12 pay-per-views at no extra cost, as well as every Lega Serie A match and other elite football access.<\/p>\n Alternatively, DAZN Standard<\/a> is just \u00a315.99\/month, with the caveat you will have to pay for pay-per-view events.<\/p>\n![\"Anthony](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2069526399.jpg\")
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