Alex Pereira initially began his athletic journey in boxing, showing early promise before shifting his focus to MMA and the UFC. Over a relatively short period, Pereira has risen to prominence as one of the top figures in mixed martial arts, quickly making a significant impact in the UFC.
Hailing from Brazil, Pereira transitioned from kickboxing where he achieved great success as a two-time Glory champion, likely securing his place among the greatest kickboxers ever. However, his skills are not limited to kickboxing; he also had a notable amateur boxing career.
Pereira started kickboxing training at 22 but chose to take up amateur boxing to hone his abilities. He reportedly won around 14 amateur boxing matches, all ending within the first round. Earlier this year, Pereira revealed that during his boxing tenure, he faced three Olympic-level boxers and knocked them all out. He recalled on Jackson’s podcast how early in his boxing career he was quickly knocking out opponents, including fighters from Brazil’s Olympic team.
Although detailed records of his boxing career are scarce, several knockout highlights are available online, showcasing his lethal left hook. In one amateur bout, he knocked a Brazilian Olympic team member out of the ring, demonstrating his power early on. Following numerous amateur KOs against Olympic-level opponents, Pereira was invited to turn professional and made his pro debut in 2017, winning by knockout.
Regarding a potential boxing match with Jake Paul, Pereira has expressed his ambition to return to boxing in the future, even suggesting a matchup with Oleksandr Usyk. Jake Paul, who has transitioned into boxing and is preparing for a big fight against former heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua, has sought a bout with Pereira. Pereira shared his honest thoughts on the prospect of facing Paul, particularly as Paul prepares for one of his most challenging fights.
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Fan Take: For fight enthusiasts, Pereira’s diverse fighting background highlights the dynamic skill set fighters now bring into the UFC, blending striking arts at elite levels. His potential crossover back to boxing could shake up both sports, offering exciting matchups that blur traditional combat sports boundaries.
