Chuck Liddell open to boxing Shaq, Barkley

UFC Hall of Famer and former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell named Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley as two opponents he'd be interested in facing in the boxing ring.

Liddell was asked during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Unlocking the Cage" with Jimmy Smith this week who he'd most like to knock out if he was offered a celebrity boxing match. Smith suggested O'Neal would make for a "fun" match, which Liddell agreed with.

"Yeah, Shaq would be a fun one. Change it up and try to reach Shaq," Liddell replied.

He added: "I was always around big guys, but Shaq's one of the few guys you go up to and go, 'Damn, Shaq's big.'"

Liddell also said he'd be open to facing O'Neal's NBA on TNT co-host.

"Maybe Charles Barkley," Liddell said. "He challenged me to come back and beat him in a golf tournament again. I beat him in that Tahoe tournament. I was second-to-last, but I beat him. I pulled out in the last hole and beat Charles Barkley."

The 51-year-old Liddell last fought in December 2018 when he lost to Tito Ortiz via first-round knockout. He's set to referee a boxing match between former NBA player Lamar Odom and singer Aaron Carter on Friday night.