In a recent interview with “Boxing Social,” Bryan Danielson shared an account of a boxing sparring session that gave him significant perspective on the sport.
Danielson, who has been working with AEW’s creative team since his last televised appearance at the WrestleDream event in October 2024, expressed his high regard for boxers.
He explained that while he has extensive training in Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu, punching has always been a weaker area for him compared to kicking. Danielson then described an experience in Las Vegas when his coach had him train with boxers. “I have too much respect for boxers. I’ve trained a lot in muay-thai and jiu-jitsu, but one of my weaknesses in muay-thai has always been my punches — I’m much better with kicks. When I lived in Las Vegas, my coach sent me to train with some boxers. I ended up sparring with 16-year-old kids, and they completely lit me up,” he stated.
Related content
Danielson further detailed the encounter, noting the sophisticated skill involved in boxing. “Boxing footwork and head movement at the elite level is on another level. I couldn’t even land a shot on this 16-year-old. He knew I’d had a number of concussions and was careful not to hit me hard — but even then, he was able to just tap me whenever he wanted. It really gave me perspective. Even talking to someone like Anthony Ogogo in AEW, you realize that once you reach the top tier in boxing, it’s a whole different game.”
READ MORE: AEW’s Recent Show Format Changes Explained
