Former featherweight UFC champion Jose Aldo can now proudly claim to be a professional boxer—and an unbeaten one at that.
Aldo put on the boxing gloves for the first time on Friday at Shooto Brazil Boxing. It was broadcast live on UFC streaming service from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s Nova Uniao Upper Arena.
In 2023, Jose Aldo hopes to compete against a legendary boxer.
The former UFC featherweight champion just had a victorious professional boxing debut. Aldo confirmed afterwards that he is in discussions to box undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition later this year.
Aldo told to Guilherme Cruz, “His side has already agreed, my side too. We’re now waiting for [the promoters] to get the deal done.”
Death, taxes, whiffing on punches against Jose Aldo#ShootoBoxing pic.twitter.com/5LwAFJXvtP
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) February 11, 2023
Aldo may join the UFC’s 2023 Hall of Fame class. He recently defeated Emmanuel Zambrano in his pro boxing debut on Friday by majority decision at Shooto Boxing.
On April 1, Aldo (31-8 MMA) is already scheduled to make his second boxing outing in a rematch against Jeremy Stephens at Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing 4 event. He previously beat Stephens by way of first-round TKO in the UFC in 2018,
Aldo responded, “It might be exhibition on [Mayweather’s] side, but not for me. It’s punch to the face like always. He knows that.”
Since his retirement from boxing in 2017, Mayweather (50-0) has engaged in a tour of exhibitions.
He has competed against celebrities like Logan Paul and influencer Deji Olatunji not to mention kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.. On February 25, he will compete in his next exhibition match against Bellator veteran and reality television personality Aaron Chalmers.
During the UFC 283 broadcast, Jose Aldo received a heartfelt tribute. Aldo sat in the crowd while his fans watched a video of his career highlights. The commentators then said that Aldo will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Aldo stated, “My dream since the beginning of my career was to leave a legacy. That’s what I have always fought for. I didn’t want to be just a champion. I wanted to leave a legacy.”