Should the UFC let Anderson Silva fight Roy Jones Jr.?
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
- Start date
i say they both fight in boxing and in mma so fans dont lose interest either way. cause it's a hands down win for silva in the mma aspect and i still think he can take it in a boxing match as well which is unlikely but it can still happen. silva's stand is very strong and it might be a relief to know that jones can only use his hands ya know. it could work and it would be something huge if it did
I think the timing is just off. They're still a lot that MMa needs to do and thats to solidify the MMa as a sport on its own. Remember we still on the brings to walking from crawling on this sport so MMa enthusiast as a whole should give it some more thought before putting up a fight that will deter the other sport. What I want to see happen in a 2 -3 years distance is for the best fighter pound for pound fight each other to see who is the greatest fighter on earth. I might be drunk n ramblin on certain things and as much as Id want this fight to happen it has to happen when both MMa and Boxing are at the height of bringing the sport more noticeably to the fans. This will happen when both MMa and Boxing are doing 2million viewers on any given fight and that means these little divisions that are boxing on spanish or espn vs whatever station pulling in big numbers then it should be done.
Oh and give Anderson Silva 1 1/2 of boxing with the Cuban national boxing team and then lets see if Boxings pound for pound at one time was the greatest in Roy Jones and see who will beat who....
Oh and give Anderson Silva 1 1/2 of boxing with the Cuban national boxing team and then lets see if Boxings pound for pound at one time was the greatest in Roy Jones and see who will beat who....
Dana White blocks a possible Silva/RJJ showdown.
Although preliminary discussions are underway for a boxing match between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and boxing champion Roy Jones Jr., UFC president Dana White would not permit the fight to happen if terms are reached.
White, who would have veto power over such an event because of Silva’s contract with the UFC, made the comments to Dave Meltzer in the print edition of Wrestling Observer.
The potential fight has been discussed since last month’s UFC 82 event, when Silva mentioned that he’d welcome the challenge.
Last month NBCSports.com quoted a Don King Productions representative who said talks were ongoing and that the 39-year-old Jones, owns a career boxing mark of 52-4 with 38 knockouts, was interested in the bout. Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, also confirmed their interest in the fight to various media outlets.
However, according to Meltzer, White told Silva’s camp essentially to quit talking about the fight since it won’t be permitted.
The fight would have required Silva to get a boxing license because it would be an official bout, not an exhibition.
Silva owns a 1-1 career boxing record compared to a 21-4 mark (including 6-0 in the UFC) in MMA.
Jones won titles in the middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight classes before defeating John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight championship in 2003. He was named the Boxing Writers Association of America’s “Fighter of the Decade” for the 1990s, and he held the WBC, WBA, IBF, IBO, NBA, WBF, and IBA light heavyweight championships at the same time.
The fight was always a longshot since the UFC stood to have its most dominant champ defeated by an aging boxer star. Additionally, there would have been the risk of injury, potentially putting the UFC’s 185-pound title on hold.
However, the fight could have netted Silva and Jones millions of dollars
Although preliminary discussions are underway for a boxing match between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and boxing champion Roy Jones Jr., UFC president Dana White would not permit the fight to happen if terms are reached.
White, who would have veto power over such an event because of Silva’s contract with the UFC, made the comments to Dave Meltzer in the print edition of Wrestling Observer.
The potential fight has been discussed since last month’s UFC 82 event, when Silva mentioned that he’d welcome the challenge.
Last month NBCSports.com quoted a Don King Productions representative who said talks were ongoing and that the 39-year-old Jones, owns a career boxing mark of 52-4 with 38 knockouts, was interested in the bout. Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, also confirmed their interest in the fight to various media outlets.
However, according to Meltzer, White told Silva’s camp essentially to quit talking about the fight since it won’t be permitted.
The fight would have required Silva to get a boxing license because it would be an official bout, not an exhibition.
Silva owns a 1-1 career boxing record compared to a 21-4 mark (including 6-0 in the UFC) in MMA.
Jones won titles in the middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight classes before defeating John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight championship in 2003. He was named the Boxing Writers Association of America’s “Fighter of the Decade” for the 1990s, and he held the WBC, WBA, IBF, IBO, NBA, WBF, and IBA light heavyweight championships at the same time.
The fight was always a longshot since the UFC stood to have its most dominant champ defeated by an aging boxer star. Additionally, there would have been the risk of injury, potentially putting the UFC’s 185-pound title on hold.
However, the fight could have netted Silva and Jones millions of dollars
I hate dana white, I think he's a snaky little bastard, but I cant really blame him for this decision. If it was an MMA match he'd do it quick, but I'm sure he's smart enough to know the chances of Silva beating Jones jr. in a boxing match are very, very low and he is protecting one of his prize possessions. It's disappointing though.
yeah I know, I was lookin forward to it to.
Funny though, he was so eager to get Floyd Mayweather in the octagon and said he would do whatever it takes to make it happen, but when it came to an MMA fighter in a mega boxing match, he's like nah.
Would have given his sport a lot of exposure though, that cannot be denied. And like I said before, even if Silva lost, it wouldn't hurt the UFC cause no one in their right mind would think Jones could beat Silva in an MMA match.
I dunno, maybe they could set up a double match: one boxing, one mma. probably would never happen. but still, compromise.
Funny though, he was so eager to get Floyd Mayweather in the octagon and said he would do whatever it takes to make it happen, but when it came to an MMA fighter in a mega boxing match, he's like nah.
Would have given his sport a lot of exposure though, that cannot be denied. And like I said before, even if Silva lost, it wouldn't hurt the UFC cause no one in their right mind would think Jones could beat Silva in an MMA match.
I dunno, maybe they could set up a double match: one boxing, one mma. probably would never happen. but still, compromise.
Roy Jones Jr. Not Happy
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/mo...tchup_w.htmlBY TIM SMITH
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Tuesday, April 8th 2008, 4:00 AM
Roy Jones, Jr. said he was minding his own business, waiting for something to shake loose in the light heavyweight division, when someone called him and told him that he was being called out by Anderson Silva, one of the stars from the UFC.
Jones was told that Silva had challenged Jones to a boxing match. Jones said he made contact with Silva and his manager two weeks ago and they were moving forward with a deal for a fight at 180-188 pounds. Jones said Dana White, UFC President, stepped in and stopped the fight.
Jones said he was told that White stopped the match because he didn't want to embarrass the UFC if Jones were to KO Silva in the first round of a boxing match.
"I don't see how it could discredit the UFC," Jones said. "The guy has boxed before and he's a tall, slick, left handed fighter. That gives everybody problems. It would be a good fight. As fighters we're supposed to be trying to do things that amaze people and make history. This could have been something that people really wanted to see.
"I just think it's wrong not to allow him (Silva) to get the opportunity to live out his fantasy to be in the ring with one of his heroes. That's the kind of thing that boxing promoters usually do."
White did not return an email message seeking comment on why he would not allow Silva to box Jones.
"I think it's unfortunate," said John Wirt, a partner with Jones in his Square Ring Promotions company. "It could have been a good fight. It could have been a major draw for boxing and the MMA world."
While Jones thought a boxing match with Silva would be a good idea, it points to the fundamental differences in the two sports. From a business standpoint, the UFC participants are signed to exclusive promotional deals with the UFC. They don't even fight other mixed martial arts fighters outside of the UFC. Boxers are signed to different promoters, but they don't just have to fight boxers signed to their promoters. The sanctioning organizations mandate that championships have to be defended, no matter who promotes a boxer. The UFC sanctions its own championship matches as well as promotes them.
Silva (21-4 in MMA) has boxed before, going 1-1. But the 32-year-old Brazilian is noted as one of the best mixed martial arts fighters in the sport and is 6-0 in the UFC. Jones, 39, a former middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, said there was no way that he is going to try competing in mixed martial arts.
"If I had a high school wrestling background, I'd be willing to try that stuff (mixed martial arts)," Jones said. "But I'm lost on the ground."
"He's got a lot of heart and I have nothing but respect for him for wanting to take on the best in boxing."
__________________
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/mo...tchup_w.htmlBY TIM SMITH
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Tuesday, April 8th 2008, 4:00 AM
Roy Jones, Jr. said he was minding his own business, waiting for something to shake loose in the light heavyweight division, when someone called him and told him that he was being called out by Anderson Silva, one of the stars from the UFC.
Jones was told that Silva had challenged Jones to a boxing match. Jones said he made contact with Silva and his manager two weeks ago and they were moving forward with a deal for a fight at 180-188 pounds. Jones said Dana White, UFC President, stepped in and stopped the fight.
Jones said he was told that White stopped the match because he didn't want to embarrass the UFC if Jones were to KO Silva in the first round of a boxing match.
"I don't see how it could discredit the UFC," Jones said. "The guy has boxed before and he's a tall, slick, left handed fighter. That gives everybody problems. It would be a good fight. As fighters we're supposed to be trying to do things that amaze people and make history. This could have been something that people really wanted to see.
"I just think it's wrong not to allow him (Silva) to get the opportunity to live out his fantasy to be in the ring with one of his heroes. That's the kind of thing that boxing promoters usually do."
White did not return an email message seeking comment on why he would not allow Silva to box Jones.
"I think it's unfortunate," said John Wirt, a partner with Jones in his Square Ring Promotions company. "It could have been a good fight. It could have been a major draw for boxing and the MMA world."
While Jones thought a boxing match with Silva would be a good idea, it points to the fundamental differences in the two sports. From a business standpoint, the UFC participants are signed to exclusive promotional deals with the UFC. They don't even fight other mixed martial arts fighters outside of the UFC. Boxers are signed to different promoters, but they don't just have to fight boxers signed to their promoters. The sanctioning organizations mandate that championships have to be defended, no matter who promotes a boxer. The UFC sanctions its own championship matches as well as promotes them.
Silva (21-4 in MMA) has boxed before, going 1-1. But the 32-year-old Brazilian is noted as one of the best mixed martial arts fighters in the sport and is 6-0 in the UFC. Jones, 39, a former middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, said there was no way that he is going to try competing in mixed martial arts.
"If I had a high school wrestling background, I'd be willing to try that stuff (mixed martial arts)," Jones said. "But I'm lost on the ground."
"He's got a lot of heart and I have nothing but respect for him for wanting to take on the best in boxing."
__________________
Dana White is being a straight up bitch. This is the one fight that could single-handedly strip the MMA of the old "cage fighting", "street fighting" moniker, and bring in a while slew of new advertising, fans, etc. UFC is getting too bloated and weak. I enjoy watching it, but at the same time, 'm glad some of the top fighters are headed out.
yeah Dna is a bitch. i mean i didnt see jordan get blasted and baseball fans though basketball was weak when he tried it and didnt play well. i mean yes there both fighting but it's such a different sport and if people didnt see that then they dumb. even if silva wouldnt last in the ring i bet anything jones would be fucked up in the cage just as much and maybe even more. oh well
The people that think that about mma aren't going to change their minds unless Silva would come out in a boxing ring and straight up stratch Jones, which is not likely. It's a good possibility that Jones would completely outclass him in the ring and make him look silly. People that look down on mma would only use that to fuel the fire.
I just don't see a way for Silva to win.
I just don't see a way for Silva to win.