While Dana White may not be willing to let Anderson Silva fight Roy Jones, Jr. in a boxing match, Silva still wants the fight to happen, and says it will happen before 2009 is over.

Silva said he wanted to fight Jones earlier in the year, to which Jones quickly accepted. Negotiations got underway for the fight, but it never went anywhere as White refused to sign off on it, something Silva needs to fight outside of the UFC.

White said he would sign off on the two of them fighting under MMA rules, but not in a boxing match. He said that Silva boxing Jones and getting knocked out in the first round would give the UFC a bad name.

Silva’s response to White’s refusal to allow him to fight was that he respects White, but he wants this fight badly, and will make it happen.

Said Silva:

“I have a contract with UFC; I respect them, I respect Dana White and I don’t have anything to complain about the promotion — they always treated me nicely, but this is my huge personal wish, a pro boxing fight against Roy Jones, who I consider the top boxer. I’m his fan as well. I’d like this fight to happen and I’ll do everything possible to make it happen. Roy Jones stated his will to fight as well. He has an exceptional character, and we want this fight. This would be good for both sports – MMA and boxing. This would be historical! This has to happen! I can’t believe that the people responsible to make it happen don’t see that. They can’t let the fans be without this match, which can mark the story of the fight sport.”

I personally don’t understand why White isn’t willing to stand up for his fighter here. Yes, he may lose. He may get beaten badly. But he also may hold his own. Despite what Dana White says, the UFC needs boxing fans to survive. Contrary to what the average Internet message board tells you, boxing is not dead, and mixed martial arts has not taken over. That is a fact, and White should see this as an opportunity to win over new fans, and expose them to one of the UFC’s elite athletes.

I don’t know the extent of Silva’s contract with the UFC, but I would imagine that he will be looking to get out of it as soon as he can. While White may be protecting his interests over at the UFC, Silva is being denied a chance to make extreme amounts of money, likely far more than he’ll ever make in his entire UFC career.

Silva earned $140,000 for his fight at UFC 82 against Dan Henderson, not including bonuses or sponsor money, and also not including the fees that are taken out, such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Regardless of what the final number was, there is no way it compares to the millions that he would make to fight Jones.

This would be a great fight for everyone. MMA and boxing fans have longed to see two top-level fighters in the ring or the octagon together, and contrary to what White says, it would not make the UFC look bad. Not only has Silva boxed before, but even if he were to get blown out, no one would blame him or the UFC. Most of us intelligent observers understand that they are different sports. We want to watch it because it would be exciting and historic.

This is just reason number 83 that the UFC will never reach it’s full potential with Dana White at the command.

I respect Silva’s wish for this fight to happen, and you can count me amongst the millions of fans of both sports that would be anticipating these two getting in the ring together.

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