Demetrious Johnson recently made waves in the combat sports world by asserting that boxing has been more captivating than MMA. He highlighted that numerous thrilling boxing matches have taken place, while MMA enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating future events.
Johnson is considered to be a GOAT of MMA and shared his observations on the recent surge in boxing’s excitement. The reigning ONE flyweight champion provided an in-depth analysis of the current landscape of both boxing and MMA on his YouTube channel, praising boxing for its recent accomplishments.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Johnson elaborates on why he believes boxing is currently outshining MMA. According to Johnson, the recent high-profile boxing matches have exceeded expectations, injecting much-needed excitement into the sport.
He stated: “Right now, I feel like boxing is more exciting than mixed martial arts. There are points in time where mixed martial arts is having its peaks but right now, you just had Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney…Francis Ngannou, who just got knocked out by Anthony Joshua…Tyson Fury and [Oleksandr] Usyk just beat him, became the heavyweight champion. That fight was amazing. From round one to round twelve, I was at the edge of my seat.”
Johnson’s admiration for boxing extends beyond the bouts themselves. He appreciates the compelling storylines. During the interview, Johnson shared his excitement for the upcoming Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5 vs. 5 event in Saudi Arabia.
He remarked: “When I was doing some work with ‘Run It Up’, a show on DAZN, they brought up that five versus five and I was like, ‘Okay, you know, that’s interesting’, and I was like, ‘Where’s this coming from?’ And it almost reminded me of like how you said with WWE [Survivor Series]. The storylines, as I have transitioned into this role of covering the sport and covering it as my passion, I like the storylines.” [11:28 – 11:51]
The recent surge in boxing’s popularity can be attributed to several key factors. High-profile matches like Garcia vs. Haney and Fury vs. Usyk have drawn significant attention and viewership. These matches have delivered on the hype, providing fans with unforgettable moments and edge-of-the-seat excitement.
While Johnson praises boxing, he acknowledges that MMA has its own thrilling periods. The sport is known for its unpredictability and intense action, which have garnered a dedicated fanbase. But Johnson believes that at this moment, boxing is enjoying a renaissance that MMA has yet to match.
