Quinton “Rampage” Jackson expects to settle his feud with longtime UFC rival Rashad Evans in the boxing ring soon, with Jackson claiming there is “unfinished business” between the two former champions.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was scheduled to make his full boxing debut against Shannon Briggs on June 1, but the bout has been canceled.
However, the 45-year-old was involved in a type of boxing fight called the “Siamese Boxing Fight” last year at Fight Circus 6 in Thailand, teaming up with Bob Sapp to face John Nutt and a man called Woody.
Quinton Jackson is eyeing a boxing match with Rashad Evans
In June 2009, Jackson and Evans began their rivalry when they faced each other as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 10.
Just three months later, Rampage announced he was leaving UFC due to a dispute with the organization. Nevertheless, he returned at UFC 144 in 2010, finally facing “Sugar” Evans.
Rashad won the bout despite being injured in the first round.
The two had a fierce rivalry during their time at UFC, but Jackson recently admitted that he and Evans are now friends and have put any animosity they had for each other behind them.
“It was great meeting Rashad because he's just a really fun guy and a good guy,” Jackson told Demetrious Johnson in an interview.
Jackson and Evans co-starred as German twins in the film Boss Level, which aired exclusively on Hulu in 2021.
“I didn't like him at the time. Joe Carnahan, the director of 'The A-Team,' was doing another movie called 'Boss Level,' and he had the bright idea of making Rashad and I into German twins.
“It was a little difficult at first on set, but after a while we got along and we've been just guys ever since, but I feel like there's still some unfinished business with him,” Jackson said.
Though they are currently on a civil terms, Jackson would love the chance to fight Evans again and has suggested a boxing bout would make the most sense, with Evans reportedly interested.
“He said he'd be willing to fight me in boxing, but I don't think he wants to do MMA anymore because he knows I'm going to beat him in MMA. He just got lucky in beating me so he thinks he can beat me in boxing, so I hope that happens one day,” Rampage added.
Quinton Jackson slams UFC for 'disrespectful' pay structure
The 45-year-old last fought for UFC in 2013, losing to Glover Teixeira. During his time there, the outspoken light heavyweight boxer was unhappy with the promotion and revealed the price he had to pay to exit his contract with UFC and move to Bellator.
“It was a weird thing. I don't remember exactly what happened, but when I left UFC because they terminated my contract with Reebok, which was before my Reebok contract went into effect, I was contractually obligated to do one more fight with UFC and I had to terminate my contract myself. I think it cost me like $1.7 million,” Jackson revealed.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion criticized the promotion's show-per-win compensation structure, saying fighters should get paid the same whether they win or lose.
“I can tell you this: Bellator has paid me more than UFC. If I sign a contract, I'll be paid the same amount. I've never done this to show that if I win, I can get this, if I win, I can get that. I've never signed a contract like that.”
“I think it's disrespectful, I think it's disrespectful for you to even think about this, regardless of the level, we're here to fight and whether we win or lose we should get the same pay,” Rampage argued.
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