Robert Whittaker isn’t planning on going anywhere just yet, but the former UFC middleweight champ admits he’s already thought about what life after MMA might look like — and boxing could be next.
The 35-year-old watched the Anthony Joshua–Jake Paul fight over the weekend, where former UFC champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley went head-to-head, with Silva scoring a TKO victory.
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With the likes of Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson and Jorge Masvidal also making the move from the Octagon to the boxing ring, Bobby Knuckles is hopeful he can one day do the same.
“Yeah, it interests me for sure, certainly,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade Podcast.
“It definitely interests me, especially not actually having to go through the boxing circuit the way a lot of guys did.
“If I can move straight up to these … UFC guys coming into boxing doing those sort of fights. You know what I’m talking about.
“I think there’s some money to be made there. I think it’ll keep me fit. I think it’s definitely an aspect of the sport that I enjoy.
“I’ve always loved striking. To move into that field would be cool. It would be a nice, fresh change.”
Whittaker hasn’t fought since his split-decision loss to Reinier de Ridder, which was his second straight defeat.
Before that, the fan favourite had put together back-to-back wins over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov.
Ahead of his fight with de Ridder, Whittaker told Fox Sports Australia about his dream retirement scenario.
“Four fights,” Whittaker said.
“I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I want four more, that’s me. I see the stepping stones needed to do what I want to do.
“Four fights gets me into that title shot, gets me into a position to finish on top, to have that fairy tale ending. I’m working towards it.”
Last year, he suffered a brutal first-round submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev, leaving him with an injured jaw and three shattered lower teeth. Still, he’s undeterred.
“He was just better than me on the day,” Whittaker said.
“I could look to make as many excuses under the sun as I want, but truth is I’ve got the L now, so all you can do really is just throw yourself back in the gym, get back on the horse.
“Because the fight went the way it was, I’m not disheartened in my own skill set particularly much. I’m not disheartened in my striking ability, my knockout ability, so I go into this fight still with a lot of confidence that I can do what it is that I do.
“Prior to the Chimaev fight, that I did to Ikram, that I did to Costa, striking’s my game. He’s going to look to try and take me down and I’m not going to let him.”
Whittaker hasn’t announced his next opponent but has his sights set on Sean Strickland at the White House in June.
“I would love to fight Sean Strickland in front of the White House,” Whittaker said.
“For one, I think it’s going to be a monumental occasion. When are you ever going to be able to fight in front of the White House ever again?
“But I’ve been trying to fight Sean for the longest of times.
“Just because I like that fight.
“We’ve been in the same circles for a while.
“He’s still ranked three, which puts me right back into a ‘Definitely interests me’: Aussie UFC star eyes switch… but wants White House blockbuster first conversation I want to be part of.
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“And I think it would be a fun fight.
“I think it would be a good fight to watch.
“Yeah, I’d love to be on there.”
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