The boxing vs. MMA argument is a constant one among fans of both sports. UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos has thrown out the latest salvo.
The 6-foot-4 Brazilian told the Associated Press that he would stop Wladimir Klitschko, boxing’s best big man, if the two ever fought.
“I could beat that guy, man,” dos Santos said. “Maybe not easy, but I could knock him out.”
Dos Santos’ best skill in MMA is boxing. Eleven of his 15 wins have come via knockout, including a one-punch starching of Cain Velasquez last November on Fox to win the heavyweight title. He says he sees “a lot of holes” in Klitschko’s game and calls Wladimir and his brother Vitali, another top heavyweight boxer, “boring” to watch.
“Wladimir, the Klitschkos, they’re amazing,” dos Santos added. “I like to watch them fight, especially Wladimir, but it’s kind of boring. They are really good at what they do, but they are very careful. They don’t go to the fight to finish the fight. They stay there in that safe strategy all the time. It’s not the Mike Tyson time. Guys don’t finish fights.”
Dos Santos meets Velasquez in a rematch for the belt Dec. 29 at UFC 155 in Las Vegas, the company’s premier year-end extravaganza. He doesn’t plan on stepping into the boxing ring anytime soon.
“I love who I am, and I want to stay in MMA,” he said.
Wladimir Klitschko, a three-belt champion, is 58-3 with 51 wins by way of knockout. He fights Mariusz Wach on Nov. 10 in Germany. He and Vitali have long been criticized for slow-paced styles and lack of competition. Heavyweights once ruled boxing, but Wladimir hasn’t even fought in the United States since 2008.
“Boxing is going down,” Dos Santos said.
The typically warm and friendly dos Santos saved some trash talk for Velasquez, too. He promises a similar finish to the first Fox card, the most watched UFC fight ever: a quick night for his opponent.
“Some people are asking me if the fight was too fast, but I don’t think so,” dos Santos said. “And if he gives me the opportunity again, it’s going to be even faster.”
