Another Boxer Turns To MMA: Ricardo Mayorga Signs With MMA Start-Up

Fresh of the heels of the announcement of the head-to-head PPV showdown between a boxing event headlined by Floyd Mayweather and UFC 103 headlined by Rich Franklin, it seems another famous boxer will take on the challenge of matching the worlds new favorite combat sport.

Only this time, the challenge will take place in an actual fight.

News came yesterday that legendary Nicaraguan boxer Ricardo Mayorga has signed with upstart Shine promotions. A three-time Welterweight champion and one-time Junior Middleweight champion, Mayorga ends his boxing career with a 29-7-1 record, with 23 wins coming by knockout.

Although many people are greeting the news with tepid reactions, this is not the same kind of crossover that former boxers have made. 

When people think of boxers making the MMA transition, most people notably discuss the up-and-down effort of Ray Mercer. Mercer was fed to the proverbial dogs in his first MMA bout, taking on Kimbo Slice in a pro-exhibition match where he lost by guillotine choke. However, after the fact, Mercer admitted that he didn't train in any MMA disciplines, expecting Slice to stand and trade with him. 

What people fail to remember about Mercer is that he made the transition at the ripe age of 48. Then became the first man to knockout Tim Sylvia, when the dropped the former UFC champ in nine seconds this June.

If Mercer has been able to grow in the sport, and many reports indicate that he has, there is plenty of hope for Mayorga who still has time left in his 35 year old legs. The orthodox fighter has deadly power in both hands, punches with lightening speed and has a granite chin. While his ground skills are clearly going to leave a lot to be desired, if any fighter decides to stand and trade, they would be making a deadly mistake. 

Mayorga fights at a frenetic pace that led Ring magazine to once refer to him as the craziest man in the sport. Also noteworthy is that he is used to keeping up over 12, three minute rounds and doesn't figure to slow down in the shorter fights. But the difference between the chaos that Mayorga seems to generate is that his defense is always on stand by.

While many MMA fighters leave themselves open to get tagged by punches as they advance, Mayorga has always deftly avoided counter-punches while he surges forward.

However, all is not rosy for Ricardo's MMA future. He has been notoriously stubborn as a fighter and could very easily be too stubborn to spend much time focusing on picking up other combat techniques after boxing professionally since 1993. If he decides to let his stand up define his MMA career he could be in for a very up and down experience.

At least we know it will also be fast-paced and entertaining.