Badr Hari Speaks on Boxing, Questions Top Heavyweights Adamek and Arreola

Talk of kickboxing superstar Badr Hari's interest in boxing picked up again following his recent appearance on The Voice Versus. There, Hari told the show's host (and all-around combat sports announcer) Michael Schiavello that he had a distinct interest in training with Freddie Roach.

While there hasn't been any developments directly related to those aspirations, Hari's trainer Mike Passenier addressed the topic with FightHype on Thursday. In that exchange, Passenier considered Hari's physical attributes alongside those of current top heavyweights in boxing, and offered that his fighter continues to be interested in perhaps making the transition to the sport.

Well, Badr Hari has followed his trainer and also spoken with the folks at FightHype, and it seems that he is going so far as to call out names:

I look at guys like [Tomasz] Adamek and [Chris] Arreola and if they are considered the top of the division, I kinda laugh at that. I think I am ready for those guys right now; or Monte Barrett, who just beat David Tua.

Now, Monte Barret may have seen better days, but Badr Hari is calling out some names there. In fact, the gentlemen over at Bad Left Hook currently have Tomasz Adamek - who is set to face Vitali Klitschko, September 10th on HBO - ranked as the third best heavyweight in the world, while Chris Arreola stands at number five on their list.

There is obviously no definitive answer as to whether or not Hari's flirtation with the sport of boxing will lead to anything, but in an era when most kick boxers are looking toward mixed martial arts, this is an interesting move to consider.