[Zhang Fei]

Many decades ago, probably the late 1970's, fight promoters put together an event in Hawaii, martial arts experts against boxers, classed by weight. The boxers won eight out of eight matches, every one of them by KO or TKO. Nowadays, perhaps cross training is so advanced that boxers have lost their advantage. That said, if you have KO power in your fists, you are going to be a serious threat to any other kind of fighter, no matter how skilled or versatile.

Were the martial artists allowed to kick? Or grapple?

[Lee'sGhost]

Good point. I vaguely recall this event. I believe it was fists only.

[zeestephen]

Re: “Were the martial artists allowed to kick? Or grapple?”

Absolutely.

As I recall, low blows were the only thing outlawed.

Remember, this was the era of spectacular martial arts films, Bruce Lee, Kung Fu, etc.

The promoters tried to get a closed circuit TV re-match, but none of the top name martial artists would sign up, but ranked boxers were climbing over each other trying to cash in on a big pay day.