Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson withdrew from their anticipated boxing match due to unmet contractual promises and financial concerns, though Evans remains open to rescheduling the fight with a different promoter in the future.
Rashad Evans was buzzing with excitement for his boxing match against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Yet, just before the showdown, he noticed that promises made by the promoters were falling apart.
Faced with potential chaos, Evans and Rampage decided to back out at the last minute. They wanted to avoid the mess of fighting without fulfilled contractual obligations.
“Negotiations kind of just fell apart,” Evans shared with MMA Fighting. Promises weren’t kept, and time ran short for a workaround. Disappointing? Absolutely.
They had trained hard, not planning to mess around. Both were in top shape, laser-focused on this fight. A real letdown for them both.
While specifics weren’t spilled, Evans hinted money played a big role in their decision. Horror stories from other fighters loomed large in his mind.
Financial concerns derailed things. Evans didn’t want to risk not getting paid post-fight. Safety measures were attempted but agreements remained elusive.
One incident with UFC vets Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz came to mind. Diaz even sued Fanmio for $9 million over unpaid dues after a July 2024 bout.
Masvidal had his own payment woes, keeping tight-lipped but assuring all would be revealed eventually. This set off alarm bells for Evans.
Learning from Diaz and Masvidal’s situation was key for Evans and Rampage. They wanted everything settled before stepping into the ring.
The card was still in flux, leaving room for last-minute solutions. But as it stood, they couldn’t proceed.
Despite their rivalry, Evans consulted Rampage before canceling the fight. Their chemistry made battles fun, despite being adversaries.
Both fighters had put projects on pause for this match. With its cancellation, Evans planned to shift focus back to regular activities.
Yet, hope lingered for rescheduling. Evans was open to working with new promoters—perhaps Misfits Boxing or a Jake Paul event?
“I’m going to regroup,” Evans said, still eager for a bout with Rampage. He missed the fighting mindset despite exploring life outside the ring.
If a viable promotion arises, Evans is all in—as long as it makes sense for both parties. The influencer market’s growth offers exciting possibilities.
Evans isn’t throwing in the towel just yet but won’t stress over uncontrollable factors either. Life’s busy enough with businesses and analyst gigs.
“Life goes on if this doesn’t happen,” he mused. Training might take a backseat while he focuses on ventures beyond fighting—but that itch remains.