By Charles Jay:
A boxing website named BoxingTalk allegedly quoted Roy Jones as saying that he would be interested in fighting Anderson Silva, recent victor over Dan Henderson, who is being currently touted by the UFC as the best “pound-for-pound” fighter in the world. Maybe there’s a little irony there, as Jones, the former middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight champion, according to at least one of the world sanctioning bodies, held down the unofficial “P4P” designation for years in the hands-only world.
Silva reportedly would like to have the match, and Jones, who is coming off a win over Felix “Tito” Trinidad, responded to that quasi-challenge within the context of talking about visiting the Rhineland to discuss a super middleweight fight in Berlin against German Markus Beyer, the former WBC 168-pound champion:
“The trip was great. The fans over there seemed highly interested in having me go over there to showcase my talents and put on a show with him. They know if I’m there it’s guaranteed to be a good show,” said Jones. “Right now I’m also hearing that this guy Silva is really talking about fighting me in a boxing match and I think that’s bigger than Beyer. If he comes up again, I mean he got on his website that he wants Roy Jones Jr, if he’s serious that might mean more to me than going to Germany and fighting Beyer. In Germany I know I’m going to knock Beyer out because that’s the way I have to win over there. But with Silva, I know I can outbox him and be good. It would be smarter for me to fight I don’t know his first name, but Silva first and then Beyer or the winner of Bernard (Hopkins) and (Joe) Calzaghe.”
Okay, Roy, we’ll throw you a break on the “I don’t know his first name” business, because after all, it may be tough for him to distinguish between an Anderson Silva and Wanderlei Silva or even a Tim Sylvia or Phil Silvers (remember “Sergeant Bilko”?). But one thing that is completely wishful thinking for Roy Jr. is that he will get Silva into a boxing ring, under boxing rules. Anderson is known to have a formidable stand-up game - within the context of mixed martial arts - but there is probably very little upside for him to get involved in a boxing-only brawl, even with an aging (39) former superstar whose best days are well behind him.
So even though Ed Soares, Silva’s manager, has said “It’s not just talk; we really would like to put that fight together,” don’t look for it. Dana White, who is obviously looking to mold Silva into a major star in the UFC, has already gone on record as dismissing it, saying that it could only happen if it were a mixed martial arts match conducted under UFC rules.
That would likely require an even higher level of “wishful thinking”…….
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