Monday night’s episode of WWE RAW saw the continuation of the beef between professional boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and wrestling superstar Braun Strowman. The duo had a heated exchange before security separated them in the ring. A match has now been rumored between Fury and Strowman at the end of October with Saudi Arabia being the possible location. Combat sports fans are anticipating a battle between the boxer and wrestler. It won’t be the first time a boxer and grappler have stepped into the squared circle and this welcome offer gives fans the chance to wager on combat sports bouts when they take place.
If Fury and Strowman due square off in the ring against one another, it won’t be the first time that a boxer and wrestler met in a wrestling bout. Here is a look at some other notable boxers to face wrestlers.
Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki (1976)
Until Josh Gross’ 2016 book Ali vs Inoki was published to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the fight, many combat sports fans had forgotten Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki squared off in a mixed rules fight.
The bout was not working as the two fighters attempted to knock out the other. Combat sports fans can prepare for the latest MMA bouts with the Betrivers promo code and wager on the fighters they believe will win.
Still, much of the bout saw the fighters staying away from each other to avoid being knocked out. In the end, the match was incredibly forgettable but it is now seen as the birth of modern MMA.
Andre the Giant vs. Chuck Wepner
While Ali and Inoki were preparing to fight in Tokyo, wrestling super cards were held around the United States to coincide with the event. Vince McMahon Sr’s WWWF held a show at New York City’s Shea Stadium with wrestler Andre the Giant battling boxer Chuck Wepner.
Wepner had lost to Ali the year prior and carried a bit of a name in the mid-1970s. There was some belief he could beat Andre, despite the Frenchman being in his prime and not the terribly unhealthy state he would be just 10 years later.
It is still unknown if the bout was a work or shoot, but it ended when Andre tossed Wepner out of the ring and the boxer took the count-out loss.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show
Long before Floyd Mayweather cashed in with Conor McGregor on their crossover fight of the century, the legendary boxer entered the WWE for a big payday. Mayweather met Big Show in a battle labeled as “The Biggest vs. The Best” at WrestleMania 24 in front of more than 74,000 fans.
The match was a farce that saw Mayweather’s cornermen get involved with chairs being hit across Big Show’s back as well as the boxer attempting to flee the ringside area. In the end, Mayweather put on a pair of brass knuckles under his boxing gloves and knocked out Big Show.
According to Wrestling Observer founder Dave Meltzer, Mayweather was paid $2 million for his WWE match. It was $18m less than ESPN had originally claimed the boxer made.
