Jon Jones retired from MMA earlier this year, and left Tom Aspinall high and dry. And in doing so, Jones also took away the biggest money-making opportunity from ‘Honey Badger.’ So, Aspinall’s father/long-time trainer, Andy Aspinall, found another way for his son to make the big bucks. What? Well, boxing, of course! The Englishman has trained with Tyson Fury in the past, after all!

After Aspinall’s first UFC heavyweight title defense against Ciryl Gane was confirmed by the UFC, daddy dearest expressed interest in a boxing match for his son. “I’d love him to have a very highly paid boxing match for the money. The money’s there, and I don’t see why somebody as talented as Tom shouldn’t have a piece of that money when the boxers are getting a hundred times more,” he said on his YouTube channel last month. But does Tom want that?

Tom Aspinall defies his father’s wish

Speaking to the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Shakiel Mahjouri of SHAK MMA brought up the statement from Aspinall’s father. Mahjouri noted that with Zuffa Boxing—Dana White’s boxing venture—about to launch next year, a move to boxing could be a smooth transition for the Brit. He asked Aspinall whether such a crossover interests him and how confident he feels about his potential in the ring. 

“It’s not something I’ve given great thought, to be honest,” Aspinall admitted candidly. “It’s not something that I’m really interested in at the moment.” However, the heavyweight champion didn’t completely shut the door on the idea. “So, yeah, if I want to do that later down the line, I might do it. But right now, I’m just focused on being the UFC champ,” Aspinall told Mahjouri during the interview. 

Tom Aspinall might be hesitant to jump into boxing now, perhaps wary of diverting focus from his path to becoming the greatest heavyweight champion the UFC has ever seen. The fact that he was kept waiting to unify the interim and undisputed heavyweight titles might have put a chip on his shoulder. Besides, wanting to make a transition to boxing just yet might irk the UFC head honcho Dana White is who already dealing with the pressure of entering the boxing world as promoter, keeping the amendment to the Muhammad Ali act in mind. 

Furthermore, he still has to establish himself as a legitimate undisputed heavyweight champion, clock in one defense (of his undisputed title. He already has an interim title defense), and perhaps, even beat Stipe Miocic’s record of defending the title thrice.

Maybe he’s skeptical about boxing’s payoff versus MMA glory. Though he’s not ruling it out, Aspinall’s cage-dominance dreams likely overshadow a risky ring venture for now. Tom Aspinall’s attention is locked on Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on November 25. While boxing can wait — a potential rematch might not.

Aspinall wants a rematch after Ciryl Gane

The English UFC heavyweight champion has his sights set on a potential rematch against Alexander Volkov, but only after he settles his business with Ciryl Gane. Reflecting on the Russian’s recent form, Aspinall praised his former opponent’s evolution since their 2022 clash. “He’s looked really good,” he said. “I knew how good he was when I was fighting him… I [know] he’s really good.”

Volkov, who has picked up four wins since losing to Aspinall, remains one of the toughest contenders in the division. He is currently slated to square off against Jailton Almeida on the undercard of Aspinall vs. Gane, and if the Russian wins, Aspinall is ready to go. “I think that if he wins this fight, and I win my fight, it’s going to be a rematch on the card,” Aspinall told Adam Catterall and Paul Craig during an interview on TNT Fight Sports. 

Having said that, fans will have to wait to watch Tom Aspinall switch gloves. For Tom Aspinall, it’s Gane and then Volkov, potentially. But do you think Aspinall’s dominance in the UFC would carry on to the squared circle?