In this paper, we have analyzed the error performance of the optimum threshold detection(OTD) of 16 QAM signal in the Rician fading channel with and without the maximal ratio combining(MRC) diversity technique in the presence of cochannel Rayleigh interference. An also the error performance of OTD is compared to that of conventional threshold detection(CTD) in the Rician fading channel in the presence of cochannel Rayleigh interference. With the result of analysis, it is found that there exists a synergistic effect due to both MRC diversity and optimum threshold detection in the Rician fading channel in the presence of cochannel Rayleigh interference.