By Mark Vester

According to a recent report in the NY Daily News, UFC-head Dana White nixed a potential bout between Roy Jones, Jr. and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

Several weeks ago, Silva challenged Jones to a boxing match. Jones told the Daily News that he made contact with Silva and his manager two-weeks ago and the two-sides were moving forward with boxing match that would have taken place between 180-188-pounds. Jones says that UFC President Dana White stopped the fight from taking place, and claimed to the paper that White was not going to let the company look bad by having their middleweight champion possibly outclassed with a first-round knockout.

"I don't see how it could discredit the UFC," Jones said. "The guy has boxed before and he's a tall, slick, left handed fighter. That gives everybody problems. It would be a good fight. As fighters we're supposed to be trying to do things that amaze people and make history. This could have been something that people really wanted to see.

"I just think it's wrong not to allow him (Silva) to get the opportunity to live out his fantasy to be in the ring with one of his heroes. That's the kind of thing that boxing promoters usually do."

While White did not a statement to the paper, I was informed that the UFC was willing to let Silva fight Jones, if the bout was held in the Octagon with UFC rules in place. Jones told the paper that he would not try his hand at MMA, as he find himself lost if taken to the ground.

"If I had a high school wrestling background, I'd be willing to try that stuff (mixed martial arts)," Jones said. "But I'm lost on the ground. He's got a lot of heart and I have nothing but respect for him for wanting to take on the best in boxing."

This is a tragedy I really wanted him to pummel A. Silva and show people that boxers are definately better at boxing than somebody who isn't a PROFESSIONAL at that sport.

This would have been like Pros vs Joes but for real.

I wanna see Dwight Howard go up against Julius Peppers on the football field because they are two of the better players in each of their respective leagues.Oh,wait,it's two entirely different sports.It doesn't make much sense does it?

It's a shame this one got nixed. It could have been a huge moneymaker

boxing and mma are combat sports, so they are not ENTIRELY different

they are not entirely different sports so i can see the appeal. but i'm here to tell ya that the spider hasnt seen anyone w/ the head movement of a rj jr., even at his old age. anderson would've probably gotten knocked out imo

I like Anderson so I dont really see a need for him to be humiliated like that.

BTW people talk about him having a "punchers chance"... why? Silva can punch but he's not a 1-punch knockout kind of guy even with MMA gloves, why do people think he would one punch KO a guy like Roy Jones with big boxing gloves on his hands?

I like Anderson so I dont really see a need for him to be humiliated like that.

BTW people talk about him having a "punchers chance"... why? Silva can punch but he's not a 1-punch knockout kind of guy even with MMA gloves, why do people think he would one punch KO a guy like Roy Jones with big boxing gloves on his hands?

exactly. he gets cred for being an accurate puncher, i dont see why people think he even has a shot against rj jr.

That and Silva is 1-1 in his boxing career against absolute nobodies... lol Please keep asking for this fight Anderson

i say jones and silva come to an agreement to where they do it in the cage under "ufc" rules but just stand the whole time, im sure they'd both be men of there words

the fight has little more than nostalgic value imo.

you know what i would like to see, kermit cintron vs. silva. he has said in the past he wants to try his hand @ mma, he's got a wrestling background. and after realizing that boxing's welterweight division is too much for him (margarito demolished him twice) he should give it a shot.
i'd pay to watch it