Anthony Pettis is focusing on his boxing career while still open to select MMA opportunities, with upcoming fights against Chris Avila and Cedric Doumbe, and a potential high-profile boxing match later this year.
Anthony Pettis may not have a lot of time left in MMA, but his combat sports career isn’t slowing down any time soon. The former UFC lightweight champion faces Nate Diaz disciple Chris Avila on Saturday.
Pettis has made it clear that he’s only returning to MMA for the right opportunities. Most of his attention is on his burgeoning boxing career. Pettis is expected to face former kickboxing star Cedric Doumbe later this year in the PFL.
First, he has his showdown with Avila. Then there’s a potential fight awaiting him against an even bigger name from the sport of boxing. “I’m trying to stay busy boxing,” Pettis told MMA Fighting.
“I’ve got this July 6 boxing fight and then I have another pretty big name that’s an opportunity in boxing as long as I go f*ck up Avila on July 6.” His next fight after this one? A boxer currently competing and ranked in boxing.
There’s already a name in mind, but Pettis couldn’t reveal the potential opponent just yet. He has to deal with Avila first before planning future fights. His boxing match on Saturday is part of the card headlined by Diaz against Jorge Masvidal.
This comes over a year after he pulled off a surprising upset against former pound-for-pound king Roy Jones Jr. in his pro debut. Of course, Jones at 54 wasn’t the same fighter as during his peak in the early 2000s.
Still, it wasn’t a fight Pettis was expected to win. He admits there was a certain strategy he had to employ because age aside, Jones was still dangerous with plenty of pop left in his hands. This time around, however?
Pettis doesn’t feel like he’s facing nearly the same level of risk. That’s why he’s predicting an emphatic finish over Avila. “This one, I want to knock him out,” Pettis said.
“With Roy Jones, I knew I had to go out there and out point him.” He’s smart because he just fought Mike Tyson. “I wasn’t going to go and just throw a right hand and knock his ass out.”
“But Avila? He’s knockoutable if that’s a word.” Pettis feels like Avila gets hit a lot and hasn’t fought someone like him before. He thinks Avila is underestimating his boxing skills.
Since becoming a full-time boxer, Avila has been impressive with five wins in a row. But Pettis expects he’ll have the chance to shine in this fight. He’s been working tirelessly on his boxing over the past few years since his MMA career has slowed down.
He’s excited to show off how much his hands have improved when he eventually returns to the PFL for that matchup with Doumbe. “I’ve always had a love for boxing but could never just focus on hands because of MMA,” Pettis explained.
“My kicks were always my strength.” When he comes back to MMA? “I’ll surprise everybody with how good my hands have gotten.”
Boxing may be his priority now but Pettis expects that he’ll still entertain offers in MMA just like when the PFL came calling with the chance to face Doumbe later this year. If all goes well on Saturday?
Pettis plans to fight Doumbe in September and then hopefully reveal the notable name he’s planning to face in boxing before 2024 comes to a close. “I’m not done in MMA,” Pettis said.
“I’ll probably do a couple more fights, maybe even years.” Not chasing belts anymore but for the right fights? The right people? The right opponent? Yes, definitely still game.