Former UFC superstar Anderson Silva shocked the world on Saturday night by defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. inside a boxing ring in Mexico. Silva, 46, beat Chavez, 35, by split decision in a legitimate prizefight at Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara. While Chavez appeared confident in his punches in the opening round and to be bringing the heavier hands into the ring on fight night, Silva started to open up in the second round with some serious flow fighting techniques and never really looked back after that.
Judges scored the bout 77-75, 77-75, and 75-77. It probably should have been unanimous for Silva.
You can see some of Silva’s amazing moves below.
Anderson Silva sure looks comfortable in a boxing ring 👀
The Spider is showboating against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. #ChavezJrSilva
Silva is a former UFC light heavyweight champion, and he’s one of MMA’s most decorated fighters ever. He was cut by the UFC last year after losing eight of his last nine fights.
Chavez is a former middleweight champion in the sport of boxing, and most pundits expected the Mexican to win the fight the same way they expected Floyd Mayweather Jr. to beat Conor McGregor inside a boxing ring back in 2017.
But Silva pulled off what McGregor couldn’t. He crossed over into the boxing world and beat up a decorated pro boxer at his own game. Silva won his fight against Chavez by decision, while McGregor was stopped in the 10th round by Mayweather.
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Silva Landed Cleaner Punches, Won Fight Convincingly
Despite the vast disparity in apparent experience in the sport, Silva landed the cleaner punches throughout the boxing match.
.@SpiderAnderson landing a BEAUTIFUL uppercut in round 4 on Chavez Jr.
How do you have it scored?
PPV: t.co/ZUiLgsTmuO
Much was made afterward about the scorecards being split.
BT Sport’s Chamatkar Sandhu posted, “Anderson Silva defeats Julio Cesar Chavez Jr via split decision but that should’ve been unanimous. Silva, at 46 years of age, looked great. What a legend!”
Anderson Silva defeats Julio Cesar Chavez Jr via split decision but that should’ve been unanimous. Silva, at 46 years of age, looked great. What a legend!
Regardless, the right guy did get the nod in the fight, so Silva ended up pulling off an amazing feat. He beat a legit pro boxer and former world champion, and he did it in that fighter’s home country of Mexico on a fight card entirely built around him and his family.
It was a huge accomplishment, and the fight community was ready to react.
Retired UFC star Daniel Cormier posted, “@SpiderAnderson just beat Julio Caesar Chavez Jr!!!!! Great job champ”.
@SpiderAnderson just beat Julio Caesar Chavez Jr!!!!! Great job champ
BJ Penn posted, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again @SpiderAnderson… ‘You’re the best'”.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again @SpiderAnderson… “You’re the best” 👏🏼
MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin posted, “We’re going the scorecards but Anderson Silva absolutely won this fight. What an amazing freaking performance from the legend @SpiderAnderson #TributetotheKings”.
We’re going the scorecards but Anderson Silva absolutely won this fight.
What an amazing freaking performance from the legend @SpiderAnderson
#TributetotheKings
You can watch the reaction from “Real Talk with Kelsey and Rachel” below.
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More Reactions to Silva’s Victory
MMA writer Anthony Walker posted, “Anderson Silva schooled a world class boxer in boxing and barely exerted himself”.
Anderson Silva schooled a world class boxer in boxing and barely exerted himself #TributeToTheKings
An MMA fan posted, “Now I’m just mad we didn’t get some prime Anderson Silva boxing exhibitions.”
Now I’m just mad we didn’t get some prime Anderson Silva boxing exhibitions
Jake Paul was also impressed. The YouTuber invited Silva to fight Roy Jones Jr. on the same card that Paul takes on former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley later this year.
He posted, “Respect to Anderson Silva @spideranderson on the win….vc é uma lenda brasileira! Would be an honor to have him vs Roy Jones Jr on the same card as Tyron and I”.
Respect to Anderson Silva @spideranderson on the win….vc é uma lenda brasileira! Would be an honor to have him vs Roy Jones Jr on the same card as Tyron and I
Bellator women’s featherweight champ Cris Cyborg posted, “There is only one [goat]…”.
There is only one 🐐 #AndersonSilva @SpiderAnderson 🙏🏼🇧🇷
Silva pulled the upset and even garnered the support of the Mexican fans in attendance for the event.
It appears “The Spider” has a lucrative future inside the ring.
READ NEXT: Anderson Silva Reacts to Dana White: ‘Leave Me Alone’
Twitter: @Kelsey_McCarson
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Anderson Silva Just Pulled off What Conor Mcgregor Couldn’t