This time, it’s Shakur Stevenson vs. the UFC with Joaquin Buckley firing the first counterpunch and UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier stepping in to back him up. After Stevenson suggested that the UFC “could never be boxing,” Buckley didn’t hesitate. The surging welterweight called boxers “disrespectful” toward MMA fighters and criticized what he views as a cautious, record-protecting style in today’s sweet science. Cormier agreed and went even further.
Buckley’s issue isn’t with boxing as a sport. It’s with what he believes modern boxing has become. In his view, elite boxers often prioritize defense and preserving undefeated records over pursuing knockouts.