Coach: 'Ronda Rousey could be champion boxer'
UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is back in the gym after recovering from knee and hand injuries, and her coach Edmond Tarvedyan says she's working more furiously than ever. "It's great to work with her. She loves it. She improves every day," he said in a recent interview (above).
Tarvedyan's base is in boxing and striking so it is little surprise that he's working with Rousey most in that area. The progress he says the former Judo Olympic medalist has made with her hands is a bit shocking, however.
"No question [that] Ronda could win the world boxing championships in the female division - next fight," he said.
Tarvedyan says his bold opinion is based on Rousey's sparring rounds with top female boxers in the gym. "She gets that work in the gym, with the world champions [and] she does get the best of it. We do not release footage but, you know, one day [when] she retires, we will," he said.
Rousey specifically worked with a former title challenger to new UFC bantamweight Holly Holm, back when Holm was a boxing champ. Based on Rousey's work with that fighter, Tarvedyan is confident not only that Rousey could beat Holm should they fight in the UFC, but also if they were to meet in the ring with boxing gloves on.
"I believe that, even if it's a boxing match, Ronda beats Holly Holm," he said.
"Ronda stops Holly Holm - even if it's a boxing match."
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