Beyond the Ring Ropes: Professional Boxers Who Stepped into the Wrestling Arena

The world of combat sports has seen its fair share of crossovers from different disciplines. Professional boxers have always been seen as premiere athletes. As such, it comes as no surprise that many of them have also tried other disciplines. While boxing and wrestling are both considered combat sports, they are vastly different in terms of rules, techniques, and overall approach to fighting. For that reason, it’s always interesting to see when a professional boxer hangs his boxing gloves and steps into the wrestling arena. While some may see this as a mere publicity stunt, several professional boxers have had successful runs in the world of wrestling.

Tyson Fury

Fury made his debut by confronting wrestler Braun Strowman. This led to a highly publicized match between the two in 2019. Fury held his own and put on an entertaining performance, eventually winning the match by count-out. However, Fury admitted wrestling is “too hard for him”, as it’s physically much more demanding than boxing. “I’d rather move around the ring and dodge punches” (than getting slammed on the floor), he concluded

Butterbean

Known for his personality and knockout power, Eric “Butterbean” Esch also made a brief appearance in the world of wrestling, first appearing in a WWF match in 1997, then later again in 1999 when he fought a real match against Bart Gunn, back when WWE unsuccessfully trialed the concept of “real” fights. While not a professional wrestler, Butterbean provided entertainment with his unorthodox fighting style and impressive athleticism despite his size.

Floyd Mayweather

One of the greatest and most controversial boxers in history, Floyd Mayweather Jr. also dabbled in the world of wrestling during his career. In 2008, he made an appearance at WrestleMania XXIV and famously knocked out wrestler Big Show with brass knuckles, earning himself a hefty paycheck for just a few minutes of work. Love him or hate him, but Floyd knows how to put up a show, be it inside the ring, or outside.

Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson once stepped into the wild world of pro wrestling, and it was as crazy as you would expect. Remember WrestleMania XIV in 1998? Tyson was there, not just as a guest, but as a special enforcer for the main event. He even joined D-Generation X, one of the most popular wrestling factions at the time. Tyson’s involvement brought a lot of mainstream attention to the event and helped boost its popularity.

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali, the ultimate boxing legend, jumped into the wrestling ring in 1976 for a wild showdown against Antonio Inoki. Picture this: a world-famous boxer facing off a pro wrestler, broadcast globally! The rules were truly bizarre—Ali throwing punches, Inoki mainly kicking. The match, a strange mash-up of styles, ended in a draw. It was a classic Ali move – blending sports, spectacle, and a touch of controversy.

Mr. T

In 1985, Mr. T became the celebrity guest of WrestleMania I, appearing in a tag team match alongside Hulk Hogan against “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. It was a perfect marketing move – two huge celebrities facing off against each other in the ring. The event helped cement Mr. T’s popularity and promoted the mainstream appeal of professional wrestling.

Lennox Lewis

Lennox Lewis, a three-time heavyweight boxing champion, didn’t have much luck when he stepped into the wrestling world. In 2002, he appeared on an episode of WWE SmackDown! as a special guest enforcer for a match between Chris Jericho and Hulk Hogan. However, his appearance was overshadowed by the infamous “Hulkster” who stole the show with his signature moves and trash-talking. Lewis’s detour into the world of professional wrestling may not have been a success, but it added another big name to the list of professional boxers venturing with WWE.

Evander Holyfield

In a 2007 episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Evander Holyfield squared off against Matt Hardy in a boxing match. Having appeared in the wrestling ring several times, Holyfield’s clash with Hardy was the most notable one. Over two rounds, he not only landed his punches on Hardy but also managed to knock him out.