Dana White's latest on proposed Anderson Silva vs. Roy Jones Jr. boxing match
CHICAGO – As is well documented by now, Anderson Silva and Roy Jones Jr. are interested in a boxing match against each other – even if few others, including UFC President Dana White, see the need to discuss it at this point.
Silva, a former long-running UFC middleweight champion, is on the mend following a broken leg he suffered in a UFC 168 loss to champ Chris Weidman this past month. But even before the UFC 168 defeat, which came in the duo’s rematch, Silva had expressed his desire in meeting the 45-year-old Jones, who’s posted a 57-8 record since his pro debut in 1989. And after the latest loss, Silva reiterated it.
“This stuff drives me crazy,†White said. “But it’s always interesting with Anderson. I don’t know. We’ll see.â€
Silva, 38, has suggested an MMA retirement is unlikely, though a potential return could to the cage could be months (if not a year) away. Still, the Brazilian has said he’d be open to a boxing match with Jones as his comeback fight. White, though, suggested such conversations should wait.
“Anderson a long way away from throwing a punch or a kick or anything, so let’s see how he recovers before we start talking about fights,†he said.
And even after Silva’s gruesome loss at the Dec. 28 event, Jones was still interested in a boxing bout against an MMA fighter – though his focus turned to retired UFC welterweight vet Nick Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6 UFC). Diaz, though, appears content with his retirement.
