Forget Georges St. Pierre or Jon Jones: It seems UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva would much rather step into the boxing ring against Roy Jones Jr.
In comments made to MMA Junkie, The Spider admits that he would much rather box against the former WBA heavyweight title holder than either of the two UFC champions.
Silva has made it no secret of his desire to face the 44-year-old boxer, a man he greatly admires. As recently as June, he told ESPN that he was thinking about facing Jones Jr. despite the fact that the UFC top brass have been clamouring for a superfight with him against either GSP or Jon Jones.
“I believe a fight against Roy Jones Jr. would be much better,” Silva told MMA Junkie. “I think my legacy is already complete. I already fought around the world. I think I’m the only athlete in this sport who has four belts from four different promotions. I have the Cage Rage belt. I have the PRIDE belt from when I beat Dan Henderson in a unification bout. I also have the Shooto and UFC belts.”
Silva said that a fight against either the UFC welterweight champ, GSP, or light heavyweight kingpin, Jones, won’t “change anything.” Nor will a win against his upcoming opponent Chris Weidman, who he is due to face this Saturday at UFC 162.
Both GSP and Jones have fights scheduled for the fall, but Silva says he has no desire to move weight classes should either fighter win their respective matches.
“I already went up in weight three times,” said Silva, who’s gone up to 205 pounds three times in his career in non-title fights. “I have no plans to do that again. My team has athletes of various weight classes, including my own. I think those fighters should be given the opportunity to do their work, especially since I’m not at the start of my career. I’m pretty much near the end of it. I want to maintain the way things are.”
Jones Jr. has set many records in boxing, including winning titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. He is also the only boxer in history to start his career as a light middleweight and go on to win a heavyweight title.
RJ hasn’t fought in over a year and it’s been many more since he’s had a fight of note, however, he has hinted at an interest in fighting Silva. Whether that will transpire will depend on Silva’s plans with the UFC and the agreement of the promotion’s president, Dana White.
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