Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

by Michael Rome on Mar 12, 2008 8:42 PM EDT in MMA News

Ok, I promise, I will only post on this from now on where there is concrete news, but MMA Weekly does have something substantial up:

According to Soares, however, there are other people who think there might be some merit to putting Silva up against Jones in a boxing ring.

"I just spoke with Roy Jones' management and they are very interested in it. They think it would break all kinds of pay-per-view records. It all kind of started as a dream of Anderson's, but if the UFC would back it, it is something that we really would like to pursue."

Jones' management indicated that this could be a fight that would bring together the fractured factions of boxing and mixed martial arts. "They think it will actually bring together the boxing and MMA communities," said Soares.

Yeah yeah, I know the odds are against it happening, but when two parties want it it becomes more likely.

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Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

Huh...I must admit I'm shocked. Assuming this is true. But again...Roy's management is also in talks for 3 or 4 MAJOR boxing matches. I'd assume they may be looking at this as a fall back "just in case" or possibly as a "go on PPV, beat the hell out of the consensus p4p guy in MMA and then you'll have some new pull with casual fans to use as leverage for a big fight"

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 12, 2008 10:26 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

I should also add that Jones is notoriously bad at helping promote fights. He no-shows press conferences, conference calls, interviews...etc with regularity.

Mind you, Jones is my favorite combat athlete of all time...he is the reason I love boxing and my love of boxing translated into MMA easily. But the dude really doesn't care about promoting fights anymore.

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 12, 2008 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

I think it's a money thing. If promoted right, and it would be, this is an easy 1 million buys +, possibly even higher if they get some kind of major promotional push like a 24/7 style show.

I have a feeling Dana isn't going to want to do it unless it's a kickboxing match. It should be interesting to see what happens.

by Michael Rome on Mar 12, 2008 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

Maybe they will put this on the same card as Randy and Fedor?

(aka not going to happen)

by DirtyML on Mar 12, 2008 11:00 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

They would have to work the 185lb division so that the only people getting title shots are stand up guys.
I wonder how the event would be done. Maybe a couple mma fights and a couple boxing matches?

by Simco on Mar 12, 2008 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

Dana White doesn't work with other organizations, does not work well with other corporations, does not work well with words, and most people either love him or hate him.

Going to be a tough man to work with in a cross-organization, cross-sport, cross-corporate meeting with new people.

by DirtyML on Mar 12, 2008 11:28 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

Please contribute more.

by Simco on Mar 12, 2008 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

If it happens Anderson pictures himself as Rocky 1. The p4p MMAist goes the distance with one of the greatest boxers and shows that MMAists can have the technique needed to box. Anderson knows his chance of winning is very slim but he wants to show off his sweet science and how better to do that then fight a legend.

by Yasnian on Mar 12, 2008 11:37 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

You know what? I greatly welcome it. In a strict boxing environment, I think Roy smokes Anderson -- and I am one that puts Anderson on top of the MMA P4P list. But it WOULD be a big deal, and I would greatly look forward to it. Roy isn't an elite fighter anymore, he is what he is, but is Anderson Silva a better boxer than Tito Trinidad? Because Roy kicked Trinidad's ass in January.

It'd be fun, and I do hope it would unite the communities as some hope. The division between us is ridiculous. When Dan Rafael says, "I just don't enjoy MMA," I'm fine with that. But downplaying MMA as a boxing fan has never made sense to me.

In an MMA match, Silva mauls Roy unless Roy can force stand-up for a few minutes and win there. If you do kickboxing rules, Silva wins easy again.

I like Roy Jones and he's a great athlete, but Anderson Silva dusts him unless it's a pure boxing contest. Anything involving any other form of fighting and it's a no-contest.

My pal Brent said that Roy is shit at promoting his fights, and that's generally true. But he was uncharacteristically on time and gracious for promoting his fight with Trinidad. I think after having to do bullshit PPV fights with Anthony Hanshaw and Prince Badi Ajamu, Roy got a little bit humbled.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

by Scott Christ on Mar 13, 2008 3:06 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

I welcome it just because I think the whole thing would be very exciting. People in Silva's camp say that when they bring in Brazilian boxers he smokes them, but of course Roy will kill him in a boxing match. Maybe they could do it in the octagon for the sake of giving Anderson a little advantage with movement and knowing how to avoid being cut off?

I dunno. My guess is Dana will not do it unless it is kickboxing rules. I hope it happens though. This whole situation of one side hating the other is pretty ridiculous.

by Michael Rome on Mar 13, 2008 5:19 AM EDT reply actions

Re: Roy Jones Jr. Wants To Fight Anderson Silva

Just in case anyone forgot who RJ is:

I find RJ's highlight reels to be a lot of fun to watch as he has done some crazy shit over his career. The one punch rib breaking body shot KO of Virgil Hill remains a personal favorite. As does the absolute furious dismissal of Montell Griffin (Jones' first loss was on a DQ to Griffin...which was the ref's fault honestly) in the rematch.

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 13, 2008 1:00 PM EDT reply actions