Anderson Silva Still Wants to Box Roy Jones, Jr.; Before UFC Return?

Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva may expect to be sidelined for the better part of 2014 in order to heal the severe break in his left leg, but he hasn’t shied away from the public eye.

On Wednesday, he revealed that his thoughts about a return to fighting include his desire to fight one of his idols, Roy Jones, Jr., in a boxing match… perhaps even before he returns to the Octagon.

Silva conducted a Face to Face with the Spider question and answer session on Wednesday on his Facebook page, where he reiterated that he “100-percent” intends on returning to his fighting career, but also has future plans to become a Hollywood actor, amongst other things.

One of those “other things” is an attempt to fulfill his longtime desire to step in the boxing ring with world champion boxer Roy Jones, Jr.

Asked if he still wanted to fight Jones, Jr., Silva responded in the affirmative.

In fact, depending on how he heals, Silva seemed to indicate that a boxing match could happen even before he returns to mixed martial arts.

“That is my biggest goal,” Silva responded.

He went on to say that because he won’t be able to return to MMA very soon, boxing was in his plans “as soon as I can fight again.”

Whether a boxing match between Silva and Jones, Jr., happens, of course, would require several components to fall into place. Silva’s recovery is expected to take several months, he is still under contract with the UFC, and would need to figure out a model for the bout that works in cooperation with the UFC.

UFC president Dana White is typically not warm to co-promotional opportunities outside of those that are necessary to expand his brand’s reach into select international properties. He has, however, treaded lightly around the issue of Silva boxing Jones, Jr.

“First of all, Roy Jones Jr. is a longtime friend of mine. When I was a 19-year-old kid in the boxing business, Roy Jones was very good to me,” said White late last year. “So I’m in this position where I feel like Roy wants to fight [Silva], he wants to fight Roy, I feel like I’m in this position to try to make both of these guys happy. But it drives me crazy,” before adding the perfunctory, “We’ll see what happens.”

Could Silva face Jones, Jr., at some point in the near future?

Of course it’s a possibility, but it seems somewhat unlikely considering that Silva last year signed a new 10-fight contract to compete in the Octagon… but stranger things have happened.