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'Rampage' Jackson Calls Out Two Former MMA Rivals For Future Boxing Matches Ahead Of June 1st Debut

Originally posted on MMA News | By Curtis Calhoun | Last updated 2/5/24

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson's boxing debut against Shannon Briggs isn't a 'one-off' endeavor.

Jackson and the former WBO heavyweight boxing champion Briggs will square off in an eight-round boxing fight on June 1st in Qatar. He'll make his professional boxing debut after a long, heralded MMA career that featured memorable moments in Pride and the UFC.

The 45-year-old Jackson hasn't fought since a TKO loss to Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 237 in 2019. Since then, he's been getting in shape for a move to boxing and has targeted a clash with Briggs for months after a series of social media banter.

Jackson isn't making this comeback fight a quick return to retirement and wants to challenge a pair of retired former MMA rivals inside the squared circle.

'Rampage' Jackson Targets Boxing Bouts W/ Rashad Evans, Wanderlei Silva

In a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, 'Rampage' Jackson clarified his fighting future by targeting two former MMA rivals for boxing fights.

"This first one with Shannon, I know he’s a little bit older than me, he might be a better boxer than me because I never boxed before. I’m looking at this like a warmup fight," Jackson proclaimed.

"After that, I want to rematch Rashad [Evans] in a boxing match. We throw them thangs. And then after Rashad, I'll call out Wanderlei Silva. I've been in many wrestling training camps, and I think boxing hurts less...age ain't nothing but a number."

Jackson lost to Rashad Evans by unanimous decision in their UFC 114 grudge match in 2010. The two light heavyweights squared off as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 10, which is one of the most successful seasons in the show's history.

Jackson took two of three from Wanderlei Silva during their MMA careers, including a one-punch knockout at UFC 92. They settled the score at Bellator 206 with Jackson earning a second-round TKO finish.

Anderson Silva and Francis Ngannou's success in the boxing ring shows that MMA fighters can transition sports well, and Jackson plans on shaking things up and continuing his legacy.

This article first appeared on MMA News and was syndicated with permission.

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