When you hear the name Floyd Mayweather, you think of precision, timing, and a boxing IQ that’s off the charts. Now imagine someone in the UFC being compared to him. Sounds wild, right? But that’s exactly what Glover Teixeira just did.
In a recent episode of the Coach and the Casual podcast, the former UFC light heavyweight champion made a bold statement: Alex Pereira is the best boxer in the UFC—and he even put him in the same conversation as Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Glover Teixeira’s Big Claim
“Alex has the eyes,” Teixeira said. “The movement he makes is almost like Mayweather, Pacquiao. If you ask me right now, Alex is the greatest boxer in the UFC.”
That’s high praise, especially when you consider the level of talent in the UFC. Fighters like Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier, and Ilia Topuria have all shown brilliant boxing skills inside the Octagon. So, what makes Pereira stand out?
Stone Hands with Sharp Eyes
Pereira came into the UFC with an elite kickboxing background. A multiple-time world champion in two weight classes, he transitioned to MMA and immediately made waves with his powerful striking.
Nicknamed ‘Poatan’—which translates to Stone Hands—Pereira has scored knockouts over top names like Israel Adesanya, Jiri Prochazka, and Jamahal Hill. But according to Teixeira, it’s not just the power that makes Pereira special.
“He has vision like a pure boxer,” Teixeira explained. “Mayweather doesn’t even move sometimes because he knows a punch isn’t going to land. Alex does that too. It’s not luck—it’s skill and awareness.”
But What About His Losses?
Let’s keep it real—Pereira hasn’t been flawless. In his last fight at UFC 313, he lost to Magomed Ankalaev, who managed to outbox him over five rounds. Pereira’s style relies heavily on timing and reactions, and when that timing is off, he can look beatable.
Plus, he’s been knocked out before. So while Teixeira’s praise comes from a genuine place (and maybe a little bias as Pereira’s coach), it’s not without holes.
Ilia Topuria Says “Hold My Gloves”
If there’s one fighter who’s making a real case as the UFC’s top boxer, it’s Ilia Topuria.
Topuria came into UFC 308 with a mission—to silence Max Holloway, who once claimed the title of “Best Boxer in the UFC” during his 2021 beatdown of Calvin Kattar. And silence him he did.
Topuria didn’t just win—he knocked Holloway out. Then, he defended his featherweight title with another sharp, clean performance. No flashy head movement, no dancing around. Just crisp combinations, cage control, and dominant finishes.
Notably, Topuria hardly got touched in his last few fights. That’s saying something, especially when you’ve been in there with killers like Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway.
The Bigger Picture
It’s fun to argue over who the UFC’s best boxer is, but we need to remember something: This isn’t boxing. It’s MMA. A sport where you can throw hands, kick legs, go for takedowns, and land elbows on the ground.
Still, fans and fighters love talking about “pure boxing skills” within the cage, and for good reason—it’s part of the game. Whether you lean toward Pereira’s power and vision or Topuria’s clean technique and defense, both fighters bring something unique to the table.
Usyk Wants a Piece Too?
Outside of the UFC, even undisputed boxing champ Oleksandr Usyk has teased the idea of fighting Pereira in the ring. While intriguing, history hasn’t been kind to MMA fighters stepping into boxing.
Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz, both considered elite strikers in MMA, lost to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Francis Ngannou came close to beating Tyson Fury but got wiped out by Anthony Joshua in the very next fight.
So if Pereira does cross over, fans should temper expectations.
Final Word
So, is Alex Pereira the Mayweather of the UFC?
That depends on how you look at it. If you focus on knockout power, vision, and elite striking pedigree, then sure, he’s in the conversation. But if you look at clean boxing technique, defense, and performance under pressure, Ilia Topuria might deserve the crown.
One thing’s for sure: the UFC has no shortage of high-level boxers. Whether it’s Stone Hands Pereira or Technical Topuria, the debate is alive and well—and we’re here for it.
