Mixed Martial Arts Forum banner

Roy Jones, Jr. Slams Dana White

2K views 31 replies 21 participants last post by  Pr0d1gy 
#1 ·
If you haven't heard the most recent episode of Sherdog's Beatdown, RJJ makes an appearance and pleads his case for allowing a boxing match between the legendary boxer and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. What's interesting is how Jones views White's decision not to allow the fight to take place. Jones uses words like "selfish" and "cheat" to describe the decision of White and the UFC brass to prevent the world from "seeing an event."

Clearly Jones knows which side his bread is buttered on. He's the odds on favorite to win, will make a ton of cash and add a new wrinkle to his legacy. But Jones is deeply respectful of Silva, the sport of mixed martial arts and the idea that MMA wouldn't take a hit were Silva to lose. Jones argues if Silva lost, he'd lose in a boxing match, not a MMA fight. Thus, what's the harm? Jones is short sighted, but has the MMA fan mentality: if you won't lose respect for Silva for trying, what's the harm?

Jones comes from a world where the fighters are much more the centers of power and that, in some part, enables him to speak his mind much more freely. And that freedom, even if tainted with blatant opportunism, is still interesting to hear.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/story/2008/4/9/23649/64779

Dana doesn't care
 
#5 ·
Roy Jones hasnt had a knockout since 2003. He failed to finish a blown up welterweight in his last fight. Roy has a little bit of speed left, thats it. He may win a decision but its highly unlikely he would end Silvas career with a massive concusion. get a grip dude!

Roy is 3-3 in last 6 fights and was knocked out twice.
 
#4 ·
I also agree with Dana and if you want the UFC to succeed you would too. Why should the no1 P4P MMA fighter go and fight a boxer when he is still under contract and he has to defend his MW title so where would he have the time to prepare for RJJ and defend his title at the same time.
 
#7 ·
I understand why Dana White wouldn't allow it. This isn't a cross promotion thing. Win, lose, or draw, MMA or more specifically the UFC really doesn't gain anything is Anderson Silva wins. Boxing fans aren't going to come over in droves if Silva wins, they are going to say he fought a great boxer out of his prime. If Silva loses then they would say that Boxing > MMA. While I would love to see this fight, I completely understand the reasoning behind not allowing it to happen.
 
#11 ·
I said that at first too, but still gives boxing guys too many excuses and really doesn't benefit MMA.

We would all love to see this happen, but I just don't think it will benefit MMA. We all already believe that MMA is better than boxing because boxing is a part of MMA. Boxing purist fans will not change their oppinion even if Silva won both fights.
 
#14 ·
Moving up and down in weight classes and not taking enough time off between fights will kill a guy.

But Jones didn't quit, got two solid wins in the minor leagues so to speak and tooled Trinidad for his exposure fight. He got something going on overseas and an apparent fight with Hopkins/Calzaghe seems on the way.
 
#20 · (Edited)
I thought Roy looked pretty decent in his last fight against Tito. Sure, Tito is a smaller guy and was coming off a lay-off, but Roy showed that he still has a couple of good fights left in him. I admit, he's not the Roy who whomped Paz, embarrassed Toney, smoked Griffin in their second fight, beat Ruiz and even beat Tarver the first time. But, he seems to have gotten his confidence back and looked sharp in the Trinidad fight.
 
#21 ·
The point i'm trying to make is if ever Anderson had a chance to beat Roy Jones in boxing match it would be now. I agree Roy looked pretty good against a smaller man in Tito Trinidad.

So Damone who would you say has better stamina, Roy or Anderson? who takes a better punch? I know Roy still has the speed over Anderson. I think Roy would be in it more the money than the desire to win. Anderson has that fire Roy used to have.
 
#23 ·
Dana shouldn't have let this fight happen so he made the right call however I do think he should've stepped in quicker since RJJ and Silva had already agreed to fight by the time Dana stepped in.

Also he needs to not call out boxer to come fight in MMA anymore it makes him look like a hypocrite.
 
#24 ·
dana is trying to protect the mma sport from the ignorant people.

imagine how many people would talk shit about MMA if anderson gets knocked out in the second round. most people will probably tell him to go back to jiu-jitsu.

yes it's completely different sport but the main thing you'll hear when anderson silva's name is mentioned is "didn't he get his ass whupped when he fought roy jones?".. completely ignoring the fact that silva wasnt able to use all his techniques that makes him so dominant right now (knees, kicks, elbows, grappling)

for us we know and can understand if silva loses. but the mainstream people dont know shit, they will just see it as an mma poser gets his ass whupped by a real boxer.
 
#25 ·
Who gives a rats ass what Roy Jones Jr thinks about Dana White or MMA/MMA fighters?

This is such an obvious case of the ever-faltering world that is pro boxing wanting to cash in for a piece of whatever pie is offering some $$$. The most recent case being that ridiculous spectacle of "tiny little boxer vs giant robust WWE animal" with tiny little boxer prevailing. What a farce and what a joke.

What I would offer is this: If Roy wants to fight Anderson so badly let him step into the Octagon with him for a scheduled 3-fiver. Then let Roy and his camp put up the prize money. It would not go past the first five unless Anderson just wanted to play with him.


Frankly I am amazed that boxing, let alone the WWE still even draw money.
 
#27 ·
Oops. I am now properly chastised. In that case....let me restate: Dana made the right choice.

His MW champ should be protected for the financial benefit of the UFC. And I do still stand by my first statement in my preceding post.

NOTE: The preceding said only slightly tongue in cheek.
 
#29 ·
You can't blame Dana; or at least I don't. His first responsibility is to the UFC and the sport; not the fans.

There is of course the potential for Silva to get injured in a non-mma fight.

However I think the credibility of UFC and mma fighters is Dana's bigger concern. I love Anderson but his strengths are his clinch and knees. Roy Jones Jr. isn't at the peak of his career anymore; but he is still world class.

If Silva gets KO'd in quick fashion or is out classed it gives ammunition to all the boxing 'purists' in the media who doubt the technical skill of mma fighting.

Perhaps Dana would agree to two fights; one boxing and one mma. I think there is a decent chance Silva could hang with Jones Jr. in a boxing match. However Jones Jr. would get slaughtered in an mma match.
 
#31 ·
Dana is doing the right thing. The UFC cant let their best fighter go and fight a former P4P boxing champ. Silva has a contract to finish with the UFC but the problem is he might not resign with the UFC, he might go and pursue the fight with Jones. I dont see Silva doing a Couture style argument against the UFC.

Does anyone know how many fights Silva has left on his contract?
 
#32 ·
If these boxers are such badasses they should be willing to fight with MMA gloves and MMA rules, even if it is in a boxing style ring.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top