"Mighty Mo" Siliga leaves K-1 to become Heavyweight boxer! Don't move. Boxing!

Mighty Mo takes aim at boxing!

May 16, 2006

By Karl Freitag

http://www.fightnews.com/freitag226.htm

Photo: Warriors Boxing

Former K-1 kickboxing superstar Siala "Mighty Mo" Siliga, will be making his "official" professional boxing debut in a 6 rounder against heavyweight Lamar Stephens (6-2-1) Thursday night on the big 'Tribal Pride' which is headlined by the Interim IBF Lightweight Championship bout between Ricky Quiles (39-6-3, 8 KOs) and Julio Diaz (32-3, 24 KOs).

The reason we say "official" is that the 265lb Siliga enters with the unique distinction of having recently knocked out a former world heavyweight champion. Siliga dropped former IBF titleholder Francois Botha three times in a K-1 match that lasted less than a round. He has also defeated unbeaten boxer Dewey Cooper (14-0-2, 9 KOs) in a K-1 ring.

So why the switch to boxing?

"From K-1 to boxing is the money situation," Siliga told Fightnews. "Since I'm going to be a fighter, I might as well maximize my skills into the boxing world where the paydays are bigger."

He doesn't see the transition to boxing to be a problem at all. "I crossed over from cage fighting and beat the "King of the Cage" champ in my debut. And then I went over to K-1 because the money was greater and dominated the two-time world champ and should have knocked him out and came out with a win to dominate in that field of fighting, and so the doors are opened for me in the boxing world and I'm going to take advantage of that.

Although he was dominant as a kickboxer, Mo stated, "Everybody who knows me in the kick-boxing world, knows that I'm not a kickboxer."

"This guys a puncher!" echoes promoter Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing. "Everybody's trying to kick him and he's knocking them out with his left and his right hand. He's a devastating puncher, he belongs in the boxing ring. He's going to be much more difficult as a boxer because that's technically what he does and now the other fighters will not be able to kick him anymore, now they will be able to punch him back and that usually means the end of the game."

At age 36, Mighty Mo doesn't plan on taking long to get to the top. "Within the next two years I hope to," he commented. "But as soon as possible really. In K-1, I went pro in boxing. I did work on the IBF ex-heavyweight champ Francois Botha, when I knocked him out on the very first round. So that's what opened the door for me in the boxing world. First chance I get, I want that title shot!"

Everyone on here that knows me...knows my distaste for MMA...but is it possible that "Mighty Mo" Siliga is the real deal & worthy of becoming a heavyweight champion? I mean...Francois Botha aint the best in the world...but he aint the worst. He can surely be labled as a fighter that was on his last ride.

Just curious...& I figured that maybe some of you MMA heads could let me know about this cat before I get excited & invest any time in something that's not worth getting my hopes up for.

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that guy is nice

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Originally Posted by SalTheButcher

that guy is nice

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But is he worthy of being a boxer? I've never seen him fight...very curious...as I am with all new heavyweight fighters. You never know who's going to be what lately.

I would imagine that he can take a punch if he can take a kick to the head...but the thing is...can he really box...like a boxer & not a MMA fighter?

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Originally Posted by SalTheButcher

that guy is nice

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That may be, but can he fight?

HERE YA GO WACKO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnkK...ch=Mighty%20Mo

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Originally Posted by Starr

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Originally Posted by SalTheButcher

that guy is nice

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That may be, but can he fight?

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My point exactly. It'd be nice to have him come in & be all awkward & dominate like Vitali was...but does he have enough fundamentals to be a boxer? I mean...I know that he can he crack...I mean...I know that he can knock a MMA bwoy out...but that's different than hitting a skilled heavyweight...especially someone with a good D.

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

HERE YA GO WACKO:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnkK...ch=Mighty%20Mo

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:coolclick: Thanks babe. Looks nice. Damn.

Crazy Samoen fwocker!

he got his @ss kicked by a man half his size. He aint that good

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

he got his @ss kicked by a man half his size. He aint that good

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Agreed. That's why I say...crazy somaen...whatever he is.

Maybe he'll fair better taking fists to the head than a foot though.

I aint buyin into that though.

he beat bonjasnsky, thats not a small accomplishment ;)

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Originally Posted by wacko3205

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Originally Posted by BoomBoom

he got his @ss kicked by a man half his size. He aint that good

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Agreed. That's why I say...crazy somaen...whatever he is.

Maybe he'll fair better taking fists to the head than a foot though.

I aint buyin into that though.

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true, but he looks slow on his feet and he throws looping punches. that will get him maybe some kos but it wont get him far when he staps in with good comp. I guess well have to see

Well Matt Skelton hasn't done too bad since he switched from K1 to Boxing.

I don't know if the two ever fought but a big grudge match between the two would probably be a great fight to watch.

I've seen him a few times at K-1..., most of the time he throws this looping right punch and
that's it...

He definitively has power,but I don't think he has enough skill or the condition to become
a threat to the HW division...

He fights people who can't punch thats the only reason he succeeds... I think that he would get killed in a boxing ring.

K1 Gloves are different then boxing gloves. A man could be 30 and 0 with 30 Ko's by his hands in K-1 but 20-0 with 2 Ko's as a boxer. Or vice versa depending on who or what they do.