Roy Jones Jr. has called out UFC legend Anderson Silva.
Anderson Silva has always wanted to step into the boxing ring to face his long-time idol Roy Jones Jr, and ‘The Spider’ may finally get his wish.
Now that Silva is no longer under contract with the UFC, Jones believes the timing is perfect for both men to engage in a ‘legends fight’ for the fans.
Jones says Silva would be a ‘dream’ matchup following his draw with heavyweight legend Mike Tyson last year.
“Truthfully speaking, my dream next fight will probably be Anderson Silva. Because Anderson is available now, I’m available now, and so we’ve been wanting to box for the longest time. Why not me and Anderson go out there and put it on for the people?” Jones told TMZ Sports in a recent interview (h/t BJPenn.com).
“(We’ve been talking about it) for a few years now. It can happen (now) I think. I’m going to call him when I get home and I’ll see what’s happening. It can happen, yes.”
Jones believes that, from a competitive standpoint, a boxing match with Silva is more legitimate than McGregor-Mayweather, citing Silva’s early experience as a professional boxer.
“But Anderson has a better fight record at boxing than people like Conor McGregor. Anderson was 13-1 to 13-2 as a pro boxer.* He actually knows what a pro boxer is. He’s been a pro boxer before. He knows how to pro box,” Jones said.
“At his age, my knees not being the same as he used to be, it gives him a better chance. And he’s a tall left-hander, so all of that works in his favor, you understand me? So yes, there are a few different elements now that would give him a better chance now than he would have had back in the day. Back in my prime, no, no chance. But now that I’m older and older than him, I think his chances now are better than they ever were before”.
Silva, 45, hasn’t fought since his knockout loss to Uriah Hall at UFC Vegas 12 in October. It was announced the following month that he had been released from his UFC contract.