In a notable and somewhat unexpected career trajectory shift, Roberto Soldic, a fighter recognized within the mixed martial arts community for his formidable striking power and, specifically, as the only competitor to have knocked out current UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis, is set to venture into professional boxing. This decision means a temporary pause in his activity within ONE Championship, where he recently secured a highlight-reel knockout.
The planned boxing match presents a significant departure from Soldic`s established path, diverting from immediate follow-up opportunities within his primary sport. His opponent for this crossover bout will be Tomasz Adamek, a name familiar to long-time boxing enthusiasts. Adamek, a former world champion in two weight classes, specifically holding titles at light heavyweight (WBC) and cruiserweight (IBF, The Ring), concluded his primary boxing career in 2018 with a record of 53 wins and 6 losses.
At 48 years old, Adamek recently made a return to combat sports, facing Mamed Khalidov earlier this year. This is particularly noteworthy as Soldic also holds a victory over Khalidov via knockout from four years ago in an MMA contest. Adamek defeated Khalidov by third-round TKO in their February 2024 bout, which ended due to a hand injury suffered by Khalidov.
Roberto Soldic does possess a professional boxing record, standing at an undefeated 4-0 with all victories coming by knockout. However, these bouts took place earlier in his career, with his last professional boxing appearance occurring in 2017. The upcoming contest against Adamek marks his return to the discipline after a seven-year hiatus.
The event is scheduled to take place on September 6th in Gliwice, Poland, under the FAME 27: KINGDOM banner.
Given Soldic`s prominent history with Dricus du Plessis, including their 1-1 record in previous MMA encounters, speculation regarding a potential trilogy fight frequently arises among fans. Despite competing in different major promotions currently, Soldic has addressed the possibility. Earlier this year, he acknowledged the persistent fan interest and expressed openness to the idea, stating that both fighters are relatively young and that a future meeting remains within the realm of possibility. This sentiment suggests that while his focus is presently shifting to boxing, the chapter with the UFC champion may not be definitively closed.
Roberto Soldic`s choice to enter a professional boxing match against a veteran like Tomasz Adamek, particularly at this juncture following recent success in MMA, represents a notable and strategically interesting decision. The outcome of this unique crossover contest and its subsequent impact on Soldic`s trajectory in mixed martial arts will be observed with interest.
Gareth Pendleton