Bellator’s Cris Cyborg has fought just about everywhere. As she stares down the twilight years of her career, Cyborg is eyeing a return to where it all began. She wants to box before she calls curtains on her time as a pro fighter, telling Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that the rise of Jake Paul and his boxing promotion company, Most Valuable Promotions, is “perfect” for her.
“I would like to do a boxing fight. It’s the perfect time for me.
Cris Cyborg: Boxing on Jake Paul Undercard Would Be “Perfect”
I can do that. I’m ready. I want to do that. It’s a challenge. In the beginning of my career, before I was doing MMA, I was doing boxing. I’ve competed in wrestling, Muay Thai, BJJ, but I’ve never had a boxing opportunity, and before I finish my career, for sure, this is one of my dreams. I like striking.
All my fights finish by KO. I like to strike, so it’s going to be good.” Cyborg already has an opponent in mind. Perhaps inspired by the success of Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano, which headlined Madison Square Garden this past weekend and was promoted in part by Jake Paul, she wants to take on the undefeated Irishwoman who currently rules the roost.
“Katie Taylor. It would be a big challenge for me. I like challenges. But Eddie [Hearn, Taylor’s promoter] has been calling me out for a little while to fight her, so maybe it’s time.”
Cyborg probably won’t get a straight shot at the champ, but stranger things happen in the world of combat sports. For the meantime, Cyborg will see out her Bellator contract, and finish her MMA career. “I love working with Scott [Coker], I love working with Bellator.
That’s family. But it’s important because maybe this is the last time I’m going to be a free agent, and at this point, I feel like I need to maximize my contract if it’s the last one in the sport. So let’s see what’s going to happen. I’m excited.
Depending who I’m going to sign with, who I’m going to be with, they’re going to have to find girls for me to fight. The big thing is I want to fight three fights a year and I want to continue to be active and finish my career fight. I want to be active. I think the first challenge for them too is to bring more girls to fight me, for sure.”
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