UFC Veteran Ross Pearson Wins Professional Boxing Debut

Former UFC star @RossTheRealDeal scores a 2nd round KO over Salar King in his boxing debut #TszyuCamilleri pic.twitter.com/XjYfNGzQFl

— Jamie Pandaram (@JamiePandaram) May 15, 2019

Ross Pearson is continuing his combat sports career in a ring. 

The Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran retired from MMA after his knockout loss to Desmond Green at UFC on ESPN 2 in Philadelphia on March 30. Now, he will turn his attention to professional boxing, where he made his debut in Australia on Wednesday.

It proved to be a success, as Pearson earned a second-round technical knockout of Salar King (5-11) in a middleweight bout, giving him a triumphant debut in the Sweet Science. 

The Englishman talked about being a boxer for quite some time, and ahead of his debut, he did an interview with Sporting News where discussed his goals.

“World level. I’m serious. World level,” he said. I can fight anyone. I’ve got all the punches and durability and  now it’s about learning the sport – the combinations, patterns and timing of the fight.”

Ultimately, Pearson is eager to continue his boxing career now that he is done with MMA.

“Boxing has always been my go-to – I’ve always had a love and passion for the sport,” he said. I started when I was 11 and boxed all through my teens. That’s all I wanted to do – become a pro boxer. But I got the opportunity to train in mixed martial arts, and had a fight and went really well. I went through the amateur ranks, turned professional, was signed by the UFC after 11 fights and never looked back.”

TY for the opportunity to start this journey https://t.co/n8VWtIfLhF

— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) May 15, 2019