Former boxing champion Ricardo Mayorga moving to MMA with Shine Fights

by Dann Stupp on Sep 05, 2009 at 2:56 pm ET
Colorful boxing veteran Ricardo Mayorga, who's fought everyone from Oscar De La Hoya to Shane Mosley to Félix Trinidad, is heading to the world of mixed martial arts.

The Ohio-based Shine Fights, which held its second-ever event on Friday in Florida, made the announcement during its online pay-per-view broadcast of the show.

No debut date or opponent have been determined for Mayorga, a former WBA/WBC welterweight and WBC junior middleweight champion who owns a 29-7-1 career record.

Mayorga, a 35-year-old native of Nicaragua, debuted professionally as a boxer in 1993. He hit his stride from 1999 to 2003 by going 16-0-1 with 13 knockouts. He concluded the streak with a TKO of Vernon Forrest for the WBC/WBA welterweight belt and won the rematch via majority decision six months later. (Forrest was 35-0 entering their first meeting.)

Since then, though, Mayorga has alternated between wins and losses and is just 3-4 in his past seven fights. He most recently suffered a 12th-round knockout loss to Mosley in September 2008.

Mayorga recently sued Don King for his inability to find him a fight and for alleged violations of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. In the interim, it appears he'll begin preparations for a late-career run in MMA.

Mayorga wouldn't be the first pro boxer to try MMA, but he certainly would be one of the bigger and more accomplished names to make the transition.

LOL i though diz was funny. Due to his swing for the fences and none technical style id say he might do better in MMA than boxing.

Yep, rather than an ingrained technical fighter hes instinctive, reactive and aggressive, hes tough as nails and hits hard too, he will do well as long as he doesnt get thrown to the lions straight away as a high profile opponent.

InJin Chi also got in to mma a while back and did well in the 1 fight I know about.

he'd better have more discipline than in boxing and slack on smoking or he'll get grounded down and get his gas tank emptied within one round.

It should be interesting but I agree if he does not train seriously then hes going to have a short career.

LOL he most likely won't train hard at all, he'll either knock somebody out quick or get taken down and toyed with. I'd be shocked if this went anywhere serious.

They'll go for his legs.

I hope he remember where he's at during the fight a little more going on in MMA the ref is not going to stop someone from grabbing him up like he's use to.

BullDogg Boxer Training

Tough Guy. Hell Prob Do Better In Mma Wild Striker Lol

Mayorga gats Din Thomas in March, didnt know much about him but searched and I dont see Mayorga winning this to be honest, why throw him to the lions straight away if they want an attraction

Mayorga has a chance but not much if it goes to the ground.