Since the early days of boxing and MMA, fans have been going back and forth, arguing over which combat style reigns supreme and who would come out on top in a face-off between the two. And finally, former world heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe seems to have come up with an answer when he confronted the former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson.

Bowe, in his prime, was among the best in the heavyweight division, having exchanged blows with Evander Holyfield in their unforgettable trilogy in the 1990s. That’s also when ‘Big Daddy’ Bowe recorded his first professional loss, but dominated Holyfield in the other two fights, emerging as the better at the end. But can he beat an MMA fighter? According to a clip he shared on social media today, exchanging verbal jabs with ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Bowe thinks he can! 

‘Rampage’ Jackson reveals why MMA isn’t in the Olympics

Jackson and Bowe have maintained a friendly back-and-forth relationship for years, having been spotted together on several occasions. So, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise when the duo started throwing shade at each other while dining in a restaurant. In the clip Bowe shared, Jackson can be heard, stating, “I just said, MMA guys are the only people boxers don’t mess with.”

So, here’s the thing—some folks might argue that in a fight, it’s all about who’s the better combatant, no matter their training background. But Bowe? No, he wasn’t buying it! Responding to Jackson’s obvious dig at him, Bowe said, “You just said boxers don’t mess with MMA fighters. [I am] messing with you, and there’s nothing you could do about it.”

When ‘Big Daddy’ called him out, Jackson didn’t hold back. He dove into why he thinks MMA reigns supreme. According to him, boxing–the sweet science, as they call it–is bound by a ton of rules. But MMA? That’s as close to a real brawl as you can get, he argued. And here’s the kicker: Jackson went on to claim that MMA’s absence from the Olympic games isn’t because it lacks skill or strategy, but because it’s just too brutal for the mainstream.

Hearing this, Bowe had to come up with a retort, as he said, “Guess what! I was doing MMA…” to intimidate Jackson. Jackson didn’t let Bowe’s challenge slide. He fired back, demanding to know what Bowe was doing while he was busy honing his skills in MMA. It was a bold move, throwing the spotlight right back on Bowe and his dedication to the craft. To which Bowe simply responded, claiming, “I was fighting, I was doing everything…” While it’s not crystal clear whether Bowe was dabbling in MMA, one thing’s for sure: his time in Muay Thai is no secret. 

Riddick Bowe: A failed affair with Muay Thai

Retirement wasn’t exactly a smooth transition for the former world champ after his last bout with Gene Pukall in 2008. Bowe, who had etched his name in boxing history by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion with that iconic victory over Evander Holyfield in ’92, wasn’t ready to hang up his gloves for good. So, in June 2013, he decided to shake things up and dive headfirst into the world of Muay Thai. His debut match against Levgen Golovin in Pattaya, Thailand, marked a bold new chapter in his fighting journey.

Man, talk about a rough awakening! At 45, Bowe found himself in a serious scrap with a 30-year-old Russian opponent. And let’s just say, things didn’t exactly go his way. Bowe hit the mat a whopping five times before the ref called it quits in the second round of what was supposed to be a three-round brawl. Ouch. After taking repeated kicks to the shin, Bowe said in an interview, “My leg is still hurting. I don’t know how long it’s been — 15 minutes?” Despite the beating, Bowe didn’t give up, or so he said. But he never fought in kickboxing again after that fight.

Even though Riddick Bowe and ‘Rampage’ Jackson didn’t exactly settle the debate about which style is better, it’s nice to see the boxing legend still active. But, the million-dollar question remains: Is MMA better than boxing?