Crossover boxing events have seen surging popularity in the combat sports scene, where pugilists from two different settings try their luck in the other. Combatants from either discipline have thrown verbal jabs at each other, igniting countless debates about their abilities in each other’s arenas. Furthering this tradition, Devin Haney, a rising superstar in boxing, got into a feud with Sean O’Malley, the reigning UFC Bantamweight champion. 

While the potential clash between these two pugilists promises massive bags for Sean O’Malley, the same can prove to be disastrous for Haney and combat sports in general. On one hand, Haney is geared to face Regis Prograis in an all-out brawl for Regis’ titles and become a two-division champion. On the other, O’Malley is eager to try his luck in the sport of boxing with the best names in the sport. But the question remains – what repercussions will that fight have on both disciplines?

Roots of a potential Devin Haney vs. Sean O’Malley

If anyone tried to trace back the origins of the feud between O’Malley and Haney, it would lead them to the ongoing debate. What’s the debate about? Well, it’s all about whether MMA fighters could stand a chance of winning against elite boxers in the squared ring. 

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Haney is an undefeated 30-0 record holder American sensation who holds an undisputed title in the Lightweight division. On the other corner, Sean O’Malley is the UFC Bantamweight champion. He climbed the UFC ladder due to his striking skill inside the octagon. After he achieved this impressive feat in the octagon recently, O’Malley made his desire to enter the boxing ring known. 

The crossover trend taking over the combat scene

Boxers and mixed martialists throwing down in the square ring has become commonplace; some would even call it a trend. If there was one fight that could be credited for giving birth to the highly lucrative idea, it would be the 2017 slugfest between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. 

While McGregor put on a hell of a show, the fight resulted in the ‘Notorious’ succumbing to the superior skills of Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. Interestingly, it proved that mastery in one discipline does not guarantee the same in the other. Since that fight, other massive names from the MMA world have tried their hand at boxing. Like Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz, but faced the same result.

Moreover, the best among these names has to be Francis Ngannou, who tried his luck against the mighty Tyson Fury. Even though Ngannou came extremely close to making Fury taste defeat for the first time, in the end, even Ngannou met the same fate. While these fights effortlessly drum up excitement among fans, it has also raised serious questions about their impact on the sports and the fighters.

A clash between Devin Haney and Sean O’Malley: A risk for Haney and boxing

Despite what boxing traditionalists may say, O’Malley’s desire to enter the square ring is brave and admirable. However, for Haney, it can be the worst decision of his boxing career if not for the entire sport of boxing. Here’s why:

Firstly, for boxing! Reports of Ngannou vs. Fury suggest people were not interested in the fight, resulting in low PPV sales. To put that into perspective, Ngannou vs. Fury’s sales were worse than the worst-selling MMA fight. The UFC fight in question here is the UFC 250 clash between Amanda Nunes vs. Felicia Spencer. It collected 85,000 buys, whereas the Ngannou vs. Fury fight generated just 70,000 total buys. 

Moreover, the fight would not bode well for Haney either. Haney, who holds the perfect record of 30-0, incurs the risk of diminishing his own reputation. Take Fury, for example! Even though he was crowned the winner, he faced constant criticism and ridicule from the boxing community. But Haney’s situation can get even worse! Losing to O’Malley could bring Haney’s legitimacy as champion into question. Even worse, Haney’s career could take a massive hit and tank. 

Different worlds, different skills, and different strategies

It’s quite important to pinpoint the distinctions between MMA and boxing; they have their own techniques, strategies, and skill sets. Even though Conor McGregor and Francis Ngannou proved their brawn inside the ring, it doesn’t translate to their ability to dominate the boxing scene. Both sports are completely different from each other, carrying different rules and styles, so fighters from each discipline should stick to their expertise. 

MMA fighters need a wide array of skills that encompass striking, wrestling, and grappling. Boxing is the complete opposite, where pugilists focus on punching, defense, and ring awareness. Undeniably, MMA fighters possess remarkable skills, but in a boxing ring, those skills mean nothing. If not anything else, these fights will do more harm than good to the sport of boxing by turning away enthusiasts.

‘Hell of a Fighter’- UFC Champ Sean O’Malley Gets Honest Analysis Of His Potential Boxing Debut From Active Undisputed Titlist

The potential fight between Haney and O’Malley is indeed intriguing. However, in the bigger picture, crossover boxing will have a negative impact on the sport. Nevertheless, that’s my opinion – what are your thoughts on Haney vs. O’Malley? More importantly, what do you think about crossover boxing as a whole?

Watch This Story: Devin Haney going back and forth with Sean O Malley