Boxing. That’s something UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno wants to cross off the list before it is all said and done.
Moreno, who’s known in the MMA world for his high-level boxing technique, wants to step into the ring at some point in his fighting career. This wish is not in the spirit of fighting a big name with little chance of winning in order to cash in on a big payday. As a Mexican, Moreno holds boxing in a special place and would love to participate in one of his country’s most popular sports traditions one way or another.
“I would love to fight in boxing,” Moreno told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I loved the fact that I used to think that it was a sport that was one-dimensional and there wasn’t a ton to learn. However, it always surprises you. The head movements, the footwork – there are so many things you have to do. So yes, that’s definitely something I want to have on my record when it’s all over and I retire. I want to be able to tell my grandkids I boxed as well.”
Moreno (21-6-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) returns to the UFC’s octagon on July 8, as he defends his belt against Alexandre Pantoja in the co-main event of UFC 290.
He’s dialed in and focused on the task at hand, and knows MMA and defending the UFC title is bread and butter. However, boxing is very much in mind and must in the future.
“Obviously, I’m focused on my MMA career right now, but boxing is something that I’ve always liked,” Moreno said. “I fell in love with the sport once I started practicing it formally. I began practicing it in 2018 once I was cut by the UFC. While I figured out what was going to happen with me, I started training boxing in Tijuana with Drift Cortez, and he helped me a ton with my technique. Since then, I’ve had a really nice relationship with boxing. It’s a sport that I like, and it’s something that I see myself doing in the future.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 290.
