Gegard Mousasi Intends on Pursuing Boxing Career

http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news/mma/4078/gegard_mousasi_intends_on_pursuing_boxing_career



Gegard Mousasi Intends on Pursuing Boxing Career

Recently inked Strikeforce light heavyweight contender Gegard Mousasi has his sights set on a prospective professional boxing debut.

"I signed a three-fight deal with Strikeforce and I want to box," said Mousasi. "I hope to be part of the Showtime boxing series, too."

Before taking any boxing bouts, the well-rounded Mousasi has his hands full with two mixed martial arts fights.

First, Mousasi challenges Renato "Babalu" Sobral for the Strikeforce light heavyweight title on Aug. 15 in San Jose, Calif.

And on Oct. 6, Mousasi heads to the "Land of the Rising Sun" to battle PRIDE Fighting Championships, UFC and Affliction veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in the semifinals of DREAM's "Super Hulk" tournament.

If he prevails against the Team Quest product Sokoudjou, he will face the winner of Hong Man Choi vs. Ikuhisa Minowa in the finals. Mousasi is coming off a first-round destruction of heavyweight K-1 veteran Mark Hunt in the opening round.

Mousasi joins a list of MMA fighters expressing their desires to box in recent months, including Sokoudjou, Vitor Belfort and former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, who is coming off an embarrassing upset loss to 48-year-old boxer Ray Mercer in an MMA contest at "Adrenaline MMA 3" last month.

Doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, really. When you're on the cusp of becoming a major star in MMA (which he will be over the next few years), then why start at the bottom of the totem pole again in a different sport? I mean, this isn't Silva trying to box RJJ or anything, boxing fans wouldn't have a clue who Mousasi is and he'd draw nothing...putting him very low on the cards to start out.

I hope he does well in boxing but i really want to see him become a mega star in mma...