“For me it’s a little bit of a downgrade” – Valentina Shevchenko is not interested in a crossover Boxing fight


“For me it’s a little bit of a downgrade” – Valentina Shevchenko is not interested in a crossover Boxing fight

Valentina Shevchenko

Valentina Shevchenko isn’t interested in a crossover Boxing fight. With celebrity boxing and crossover boxing fights at the peak of their popularity, several fighters have already taken the plunge. Even before YouTuber Jake Paul took over the scene, it was UFC’s very own Conor McGregor who took on Floyd Mayweather in a high-profile MMA-Boxing crossover fight.

Now, it has almost become a regularity. Paul, a successful YouTuber turned towards professional boxing only in January 2020. He is already 4-0 up in his pro boxing career, with notable wins against Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. But, he is yet to face a professional boxer.

Back to Valentina Shevchenko; the Kyrgyzstani-Peruvian spoke to Ariel Helwani in the latest episode of MMA Hour. She claimed that she would never do a crossover Boxing fight, before going on to add that taking up Boxing would be a bit of a “downgrade” for her.

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“I don’t see a reason why I have to do it” – Valentina Shevchenko

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Shevchenko was quoted as saying, “I don’t see a reason why I have to do it. I have like 12 professional boxing fights (2 probably) and I did it. I know exactly what it feels [like].

She continued, “For me being UFC champion, fighting in mixed martial arts, the universal style, when the technique is everything. It’s like you actually know all kinds of martial arts. You are a perfect boxer, you are a perfect muay Thai fighter, kickboxer, you are a perfect grappler, wrestler. You are everything. Everything in martial arts. It’s kind of like going to boxing, you can, why not but for me it’s a little bit of a downgrade.” [via MMA Fighting]

Besides being a successful mixed martial artist, Shevchenko was a successful kickboxer and a professional boxer as well. Her kickboxing record reads 59 fights, 57 wins and just 2 losses (both via decision). She has fought 2 professional boxing fights to her name, and has won both.

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Shevchenko is just a week away from a big night at UFC 266. She will be defending her women’s flyweight title against Lauren Murphy in the co-main event. This will be the sixth time, the 33-year old is defending her women’s flyweight title. ‘Bullet’ is coming off a knockout win over Jessica Andrade at UFC 261.

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