Rashad Evans was eagerly anticipating his boxing debut against his longtime rival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. However, as the fight date approached, the UFC Hall of Famer realized that the promoters were not fulfilling their promises to the fighters.
This realization led to a last-minute decision by both Evans and Jackson to withdraw from the event. They chose to avoid a potentially problematic situation where they would fight but not receive their agreed-upon compensation afterwards.
“The negotiations essentially fell apart regarding the promises made to Rampage and me before the fight. These promises were not being honored,” Evans explained to MMA Fighting on Monday. “We tried to find a solution to make it work, but there wasn`t enough time to satisfy everyone. Ultimately, the involved parties decided it was best to cancel the fight. It was disappointing.”
Evans continued, “Firstly, we had been building up to this for a while, and we both trained hard for it. We weren`t taking it lightly. We both focused and got into great shape. It was a good motivational goal for both of us. He’s in excellent condition right now, and I got in great shape too. We were both really looking forward to it.”
While Evans didn`t go into specific contractual details, he confirmed that financial issues were a significant factor in the decision to cancel the fight.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion mentioned that he was aware of numerous stories in the industry where fighters were promised certain payments but were then cheated after the event. These stories were in his mind when he decided to pull out of the fight.
“Finances were definitely a key part,” Evans stated. “That’s where things started to go wrong. We couldn`t reach an agreement that ensured we would be properly compensated before we had to commit fully, knowing that everything would be handled correctly after the fight. The last thing we wanted was to end up in a situation where we wouldn`t receive the money we were promised after fighting.”
“There have been reports about other fighters participating in boxing matches and not receiving anywhere near the money they had negotiated. So, we included some safeguards to ensure we reached certain milestones and could confirm everything was in order when the time came. We just couldn`t reach that agreement.”
Evans recalled a specific instance involving UFC veterans Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz. After their boxing match in July 2024, Diaz sued Fanmio, the event promoter, for $9 million, claiming he was still owed money from the event.
Masvidal later told MMA Fighting that he couldn`t comment directly on his own payment issues from that event but assured that “everything will be known” eventually.
This situation caught Evans` attention and made him concerned that he and Rampage might face a similar problem with their boxing match.
“We wanted to learn from the situation with Diaz and Masvidal and ensure that we were protected and that everything was agreed upon and in place before we even stepped into the ring,” Evans said. “It just couldn`t be accomplished in time.”
“They are still trying to organize the event, so things are still ongoing. I don’t know if a solution can be found, and if they come up with something at the last minute, we might be able to make it happen. But as of now, it’s not something we can proceed with.”
Despite their past rivalry in the UFC and plans to renew it in boxing, Evans confirmed that he consulted with Rampage before the fight was cancelled.
“We spoke and discussed it,” Evans said. “We made sure we were both comfortable with withdrawing from this promotion and potentially rescheduling it for another time. Whether we like it or not, he is my opponent on fight night, but there’s also a unique connection that develops when you have a rival like Rampage. We have a special dynamic and great fighting chemistry. It’s something you want to preserve because it makes fighting more enjoyable.”
It’s understandably disappointing for both veteran fighters who haven`t competed recently but dedicated their time to prepare for this boxing match.
While Evans maintains a regular training schedule, he hasn’t been putting his body through the intense workouts required for a fight camp. With the Rampage fight cancelled, Evans acknowledges he will need to adjust his focus back to his usual activities, but he hasn’t completely dismissed the possibility of rescheduling the fight.
In fact, Evans is open to working with a different promoter, possibly one that could feature the fight on a larger event, such as those organized by Misfits Boxing or even a show headlined by a star like Jake Paul.
“I’m going to reassess, but I definitely still want to box Rampage,” Evans said. “It was fun to commit myself and get back into a fighting mindset. Since retiring from fighting, I’ve been busy with other things, developing myself outside of fighting, which is important. But there’s still an itch that needs to be scratched, and I still have that feeling inside me. Before I fully become an elder statesman, I want to experience it at least one more time, or maybe a couple more.”
“If the opportunity arises and we find another promotion that can make it happen, I’m all for it. It’s about ensuring we are both taken care of and that it makes sense for both of us. We know there are many promotions that fit this space and what we do. It’s great that the influencer market has opened up like this and is well-received by fans; it’s something fun.”
Evans is not giving up hope on the boxing match with Rampage until all options are exhausted, but he’s also not going to dwell on issues beyond his control.
He has successfully transitioned to life after fighting, which includes his businesses and analyst work in combat sports. Evans has plenty to keep him occupied, even though he still really wants to fight Rampage again.
“Life goes on if this doesn’t happen in the short term,” Evans concluded. “I’ll reduce my training to two or three times a week and refocus on my other businesses and activities outside of the fight game.”
Marcus Blakely