Ex-UFC Champ Announces Boxing Debut Against Former Heavyweight Champion

Two hard-hitting former champions will meet in the boxing ring this summer.

Another former UFC champion has announced that he'll make his professional boxing debut later this year.

UFC News: Major UFC Fight Night Main Event Cancelled Due to Injury

Quite a few former UFC titleholders have already tested themselves in the boxing ring with varying degrees of success, and Francis Ngannou's near-upset of Tyson Fury last year may be the most impressive example of an MMA fighter who's made the jump to boxing.

It’s been more than four years since his last MMA bout, but now Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is set to become the latest former UFC champion to enter the boxing ring when he takes on ex-WBO heavyweight titleholder Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs later this year.

It’s finally going to happen! Rampage vs Shannon Briggs in Qatar this summer 🥊 my 1st boxing match don’t miss it pic.twitter.com/kh8zTEiJfK

— Rampage Jackson (@Rampage4real) January 31, 2024

“Rampage” notes in the announcement video that a fight with Briggs has been in the works for several years, and now the pair will finally settle their trash talk when they square off on June 1 in Qatar.

UFC 300: Israel Adesanya Drops Massive Tease Amid UFC Rumors for Momentous Show

Jackson claimed the UFC light heavyweight title when he stopped Chuck Liddell at UFC 71 and successfully defended it once before he was beaten by Forrest Griffin, and the MMA legend's list of accolades also includes an incredibly successful pre-UFC career with PRIDE as well as an eight-fight run with Bellator.

Now 52 years old, Briggs hasn’t fought since 2016 but put together a nine-fight win streak with eight knockouts following his last loss to Vitali Klitschko in a WBC heavyweight title bout in 2010.

Former UFC Lightweight Star Makes Surprise Unretirement

Stick with MMA Knockout for more daily coverage of the UFC and MMA.

Follow MMA Knockout on Twitter and Facebook.