Rashad Evans: ‘Rampage’ Jackson ‘boxing showdown’ canceled, ‘let the lawyers handle it’

If you held skepticism that the boxing match between Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson actually would take place April 12 as announced, cash your ticket.

Evans on Friday posted to social media to say the “boxing showdown” between the two former UFC light heavyweight champions, which in mid-February was announced for ICS Mania 1 next week at The Pit in Albuquerque, N.M., is not going to happen.

Evans’ video message was vague in terms of assigning blame, but the 45-year-old said in his post “there were contractual obligations not met, so we had to make this difficult decision to pull the fight.” Evans said the decision was made to “let the lawyers handle it” and said he hopes the fight will be rescheduled.

Evans did not say whether those issues were from the promotion or his ex-rival, “Rampage” Jackson, who will turn 47 in June. Their boxing match was rumored for months before it finally was announced two months ago.

Evans and Jackson’s rivalry reached its height as rival coaches on Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Their first fight was in the UFC 114 main event in Las Vegas, where Evans won a unanimous decision.

In January 2022, Evans won a unanimous decision against Gabriel Checco at Eagle FC 44. “Rampage” most recently last in action in December 2019, when he was knocked out by Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator 237.