Tony
18-05-2009, 12:13
Wanderlei Silva and Anderson Silva once had a tight bond while both were members of Chute Box Academy. These days they are bitter enemies who are on a collision path.
In an interview done by Fighters Only Magazine, Wanderlei Silva, who is no doubt upset that Anderson has decided to help Rich Franklin prepare for his fight with the Axe Murderer, offered to put $50,000 of his own money in a bet with The Spider saying he will knock Franklin out within two rounds.
“If Anderson believes in Franklin so much, bet U$ 50,000 and let’s see who takes the money,” the former PRIDE champion was quoted as saying.
The controversy started when Anderson had issues with Wanderlei’s decision to drop down to the middleweight division. He went as far as to call the move pretentious. This has only stoked the flames about a possible fight between the two.
It was reported a few weeks back that Franklin would be spending some time in Los Angeles training with Anderson who defeated Ace twice, both times by vicious knockout. Wanderlei has had his own call to arms as he is training with Demian Maia, Heath Herring, Mike Whitehead and his old coach from Chute Box, Rafael Cordeiro. Wanderlei also extended invitations to train with him to Paulo Filho and his old nemesis Ricardo Arona. Arona turned down the opportunity at this time but Filho has said it would be an honor.
Wanderlei said in the interview that he would knock Franklin out within two rounds and challenged Silva, his manager Ed Soares or Joinha to match the $50,000 Wanderlei is willing to wager. Wanderlei even called upon Anderson to be in Franklin’s corner come fight time.
“I go to knock him out,” said Wanderlei. “I have trained so much and Rich won’t last two rounds. I think it is good Anderson has been preparing him. I hope he is also on the corner. I want to dare him to bet $50,000. I put these amount and Anderson or his sponsors, Ed Soares or Joinha, bet another part. Who wins takes the money.”
In an interview done by Fighters Only Magazine, Wanderlei Silva, who is no doubt upset that Anderson has decided to help Rich Franklin prepare for his fight with the Axe Murderer, offered to put $50,000 of his own money in a bet with The Spider saying he will knock Franklin out within two rounds.
“If Anderson believes in Franklin so much, bet U$ 50,000 and let’s see who takes the money,” the former PRIDE champion was quoted as saying.
The controversy started when Anderson had issues with Wanderlei’s decision to drop down to the middleweight division. He went as far as to call the move pretentious. This has only stoked the flames about a possible fight between the two.
It was reported a few weeks back that Franklin would be spending some time in Los Angeles training with Anderson who defeated Ace twice, both times by vicious knockout. Wanderlei has had his own call to arms as he is training with Demian Maia, Heath Herring, Mike Whitehead and his old coach from Chute Box, Rafael Cordeiro. Wanderlei also extended invitations to train with him to Paulo Filho and his old nemesis Ricardo Arona. Arona turned down the opportunity at this time but Filho has said it would be an honor.
Wanderlei said in the interview that he would knock Franklin out within two rounds and challenged Silva, his manager Ed Soares or Joinha to match the $50,000 Wanderlei is willing to wager. Wanderlei even called upon Anderson to be in Franklin’s corner come fight time.
“I go to knock him out,” said Wanderlei. “I have trained so much and Rich won’t last two rounds. I think it is good Anderson has been preparing him. I hope he is also on the corner. I want to dare him to bet $50,000. I put these amount and Anderson or his sponsors, Ed Soares or Joinha, bet another part. Who wins takes the money.”