Tony
02-04-2008, 14:31
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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.