‘Rampage’ Vs. Wilder?

Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Lest you think former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion, Quinton Jackson, is jumping on the “MMA guy wants to cash out via high-profile boxing match” bandwagon, he’s not wrong when he insists he’s been asking for that opportunity long before Kimbo Slice Conor McGregor made it cool.

Remember that Roy Jones Jr. “super fight” back in 2013? Pepperidge Farm remembers.

“I asked Dana White a long time ago, way before Conor McGregor even was around, let me do some boxing,” Jackson told TMZ Sports (transcribed by Adam Martin). “It wasn’t my time, there was nobody for me to fight. I still want to fight a boxing match before I retire.”

Retirement is not far off for the 41 year-old Jackson. But before he can make any future plans, “Rampage” must first deal with former PRIDE FC heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko, at the Bellator-RIZIN event next month in Saitama, Japan.

“I’ll fight anybody but Deontay Wilder,” Jackson said. “He’s too tall. Unless they give me like $100 (million), then I’d fight him. I’m keeping it real. I don’t like to fight tall guys with a long reach. I’ll tell you what. I’ll fight him if they give me $100 mil and we do me one boxing match and one MMA match, then I’ll fight him. $100 mil. I’m keeping it real. I don’t like fighting them long, tall dudes.”

Fortunately for Jackson, Emelianenko stands just 6’0” with a 74” reach.