Von one of the best times to shoot in on a fighter for a takedown is WHEN they throw punches....a great jab is not a takedown defense if anything its and invitation to time it and shoot in. I think you overestimate a boxer's ability to keep a determined opponent from gaining the clinch. once in a thai clinch all of the boxers training is a moot point. It doesn't necessarily mean they going to be incompetent, but theyutilization of knees, elbows, leg strikes and sweeps is not something they train for. Tarver, RJJ, Jermain Taylor etc are great athletes and their natural abilities will make them a game opponent but good take down defense and avoiding sweeps in the clinch is something that is just as much technique as it is athleticism. Think about how long great wrestlers dominated MMA. It hasn't been until recently that there has been a surge in fighters that are predominantly strikers at the top of most divisions. It has been the implementation of training to avoid the takedown and get back up when put on the mat. No MMA fighter would choose to attempt to "box" a prizefighter in an MMA bout. They would work the boxers weaknesses. If they chose to strike it would be with lots of leg kicks and in the clinch or with groundfighting. For instance I used to work out in a boxing gym a long time ago and occasionally do some bag work and sparring. I have a pretty strong left hook and jab but this pales in comparison to your boxing skill. That being said my knowledge of sub. wrestling is much more than yours with a little Muay Thai mixd in. If we were to have an MMA fight I'd be crazy to try and just trade punches, much like you'd be ill advised to go to the ground. Yes I'm sure you'd land some nice punches, but I personally believe that the striking skills that I do have would be enough to allow me to get close enough to make you fight my fight. Maybe not. I've only fought in "non sanctioned" mma fights, and none of my opponents have had worldclass boxing skills, but a number have had a boxing background. I didn't win all of them but I never found it overly difficult to close the distance. In fact in my 4-3 record all of my losses have come against former college wrestlers. Usually due to the fact that they were better conditioned and overall simply more athletic than I was. I mentioned the gloves b/c unlike in boxing the effects of a flush shot in MMA usually means the fight is over and this is why MMA striking is so much different than boxing.