MMA legend Quinton Jackson is set to make his professional boxing debut against former WBO heavyweight champion Shannon Briggs in an eight-round match in Qatar on June 1.
Quinton Jackson is stepping into the boxing ring. This summer, the MMA legend and former UFC light heavyweight champ is making his professional boxing debut.
He’s set to face off against ex-WBO heavyweight champ Shannon Briggs. The eight-round boxing match is scheduled for June 1 in Qatar. “It’s real,” Jackson confirmed on The MMA Hour.
Jackson’s got a diverse fighting background. He’s done wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and kickboxing. He’s even combined them all. But boxing? This is a first for him.
He sees this as a personal goal. He wants to have at least one fight in each of his four martial arts. And he’s not stopping anytime soon. He loves it too much.
He’s got plans for a couple more boxing matches before he gets too old. This first one with Shannon? He views it as a warm-up fight. He knows Shannon might be a better boxer, but he’s ready to give it a shot.
Jackson, 45, and Briggs, 52, have been trading verbal blows for years. They’ve been teasing a potential bout in interviews and on social media. Briggs hasn’t competed since 2016, but he’s riding a nine-fight win streak into this grudge match with Jackson.
Jackson’s last fight was a knockout loss in 2019. Despite recent losses, he remains one of the greatest light heavyweights of his era. He’s got wins over big names like Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, and Wanderlei Silva.
Jackson’s got a unique perspective on boxing. He thinks it hurts less than wrestling. But he loves fighting. And he’s not letting age stop him. He’s got a message for the fans too. Support fighters as they age. They’re doing what they love.
His plan? Use the Briggs fight as a springboard into other big boxing matches before he retires. He’s got his eye on rematches with old foes Rashad Evans and Silva. But first, he’s got to show up and perform against Briggs.
Jackson’s got a clear goal for the fight. “First I’ve got to knock Shannon’s big-mouth ass out,” he said. He’s already started training. And he’s going to do everything he can to shut Briggs up.
Briggs has predicted a first-round knockout of Jackson. He’s been posting memes and videos at Jackson’s expense. But Jackson isn’t worried. He’s ready to make Briggs pay for those slights.
Jackson’s not concerned about Briggs’ history of drug-testing issues. “He needs all the help he can get,” Jackson said. He even joked about Briggs needing to dye his beard. He doesn’t want people to think he’s bullying him.
Jackson’s got a message for Briggs. He’s not going to be knocked out in the first round. He’s seen the videos Briggs has been posting. But he’s not impressed. He thinks Briggs has been fighting “chumps”. And he’s ready to prove him wrong.