Jorge Masvidal’s training partner Johnny Eblen is eagerly anticipating the return of the ‘Gamebred’ to boxing.
Masvidal hinted at a potential comeback in early January by stating that he was “not retiring.” Speculation started to arise about a possible boxing match with Nate Diaz, a fitting continuation of their 2019 BMF fight that was cut short. While no official announcement has been made, it’s evident that there is significant interest and financial potential surrounding this event.
Now, Jorge’s current Bellator middleweight champion training partner Johnny Eblen sheds some light on Masvidal’s mindset.
“I think he misses that, and I’m glad he’s back in action,” Eblen expressed in an All-Star interview. “I believe this will be a great platform for him to further his martial arts achievements and his journey, while also remaining relevant, especially in the realm of boxing.”
“When you build up such a big name and you fall off the face of the earth, I mean, not that he’s like that, but just not being as aggressive in terms of fighting, it’s not as exciting.”
“He’s been promoting the fight and it’s going very well,” Eblen added. There’s a lot going on with him. His return to martial arts, especially boxing, will have a big impact because of his name, and he will continue to be in the spotlight. ”
“And he’s going to surprise a lot of people. That guy’s got hands and he’s good, dude. A lot of the problems he’s had in MMA are people trying to beat him. Now it’s boxing, you can’t beat anyone. You have to attack the guy.”
We are excited to see Masvidal’s eventual transition to boxing, but hope that it isn’t rushed. Jorge is currently enjoying his post-retirement life, as seen during his appearance at the Super Bowl where he appeared heavier than usual.
As evident from Paddy Pimblett’s experience, this can be resolved with a proper combat camp. However, it would be concerning to witness an out-of-form ‘gamebred’ returning for financial gain.
