MMA Legend: "I'm Open to Fighting Pacquiao in Boxing"

Former UFC and ONE Championship bantamweight (up to 61.2 kg) champion and MMA legend Demetrious Johnson says he is willing to step into a boxing match but only against a true legend.

"Let me share some news. Last night I came home, watched some stuff, and watched Canelo Alvarez's fights. And I thought, 'Wow, this looks damn cool.' Went to the gym, did some jiu-jitsu, then came home and told my wife that I think I want to box.

I'm 37, I'll be 38 this year. There's a moment when an athlete needs to stop, rest. I'm preparing for my next jiu-jitsu competition. So when my body is ready for a serious training camp, I would love to box. And it has to be the right opponent.

If it were Manny Pacquiao, hell yeah, I'm in. I don't want to box another MMA fighter, though I have nothing against it, but I want to box a legend in the sport," Johnson said on the MightyCast podcast.

Johnson last fought in the UFC against Henry Cejudo in August 2018. Pacquiao last had a full professional fight in 2021 against Yordenis Ugas at welterweight (up to 66.7 kg).