Sean O'Malley, the UFC bantamweight champion, has caught the eye of legendary boxing trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas. Atlas thinks O'Malley's got what it takes to make a splash in the boxing world.
Atlas shared his thoughts on his YouTube channel, praising O'Malley's natural boxing instincts and abilities. He said O'Malley's style is so smooth and natural that you might mistake him for a boxer if you didn't know better.
"If you walked into a room, and he was on TV and you wouldn't see that he's not wearing shoes, and you saw him strike, you might think you're watching a boxing match. He's that smooth. He's that natural with it, that comfortable with it."
Atlas pointed out several qualities that make O'Malley stand out. He's got good legs, vision, and quick hands. O'Malley uses ring movement and angles well, sets traps, and has a knack for counterpunching. He's also got a good grasp on controlling range and distance, which is crucial in boxing.
The idea of MMA fighters crossing over to boxing isn't new. Francis Ngannou made waves when he faced Tyson Fury in October 2022. Ngannou lost a split decision but surprised many by knocking Fury down. However, his next bout against Anthony Joshua in March 2023 didn't go as well. Joshua knocked Ngannou out in the second round after dropping him multiple times.
If O'Malley decides to step into the boxing ring, Atlas has some advice. He thinks O'Malley should steer clear of Gervonta Davis, who Atlas sees as a more well-rounded fighter. Instead, he suggests Ryan Garcia as a potential opponent, viewing Garcia as less consistent than Davis.
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For now, O'Malley's focus is on his UFC career. He's set to defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306. But with Atlas's endorsement, don't be surprised if we see O'Malley lace up boxing gloves in the future.