06/05/2026
One of the questions I get asked the most is, "What's the hardest sport you've ever covered?"
To this day, there's a very fine line between UFC and boxing.
UFC is pure adrenaline. You're sitting just feet away from athletes who are literally giving everything they have inside that cage. You feel every moment. Sweat, blood, and even saliva flying through the air. You're on your knees for hours, hearing every punch, kick, takedown, and bone-rattling impact in a way that television could never capture. You're often the first person to witness the emotion, the pain, the victory, and the heartbreak. It's one of the most intense environments a photographer can experience.
But between you and those incredible moments is a cage. Every shot is a battle against the fence. You're constantly moving, searching for openings, trying to capture that perfect strike, devastating kick, or unforgettable knockout.
Then there's boxing.
Boxing presents a completely different challenge. Instead of a fence, you have three ropes separating you from the action. Sounds easier, right? Not even close.
Those ropes create tiny windows—sometimes only 16 to 18 inches of space—to work through. Meanwhile, fighters are throwing punches at unbelievable speeds while constantly moving along the ropes. Finding the perfect angle, timing the shot, and avoiding obstructions while tracking elite athletes is one of the toughest things I've ever had to do behind a camera.
Both sports push you physically and mentally. Both demand split-second reactions and complete focus. Both have given me some of the most unforgettable moments of my career.
If I had to choose which is harder?
Honestly, I still can't.
That's why UFC and boxing remain at the top of my list as the most challenging—and most rewarding—sports I've ever had the privilege of covering.
