Retired from MMA last year, Anderson Silva has shown that he can continue to impress his fans. This Saturday 19th of June, the “Spider” made his return to Boxing after more than 15 years and, faced Julio Cezar Chávez Jr , former world champion of the sport, he came out victorious in a split decision after eight rounds. At the height of his 46 years, the Brazilian had a great performance – beating an opponent 11 years younger – and showed that he can continue his trajectory in the noble art.
The fight began with both adopting a more cautious stance. However, it didn’t take long for Anderson Silva to show the style that made him famous in MMA. Aggressive and provocative at the same time, the MMA legend recalled his heyday when he lowered his guard at a certain point in the fight and invited the Mexican to attack him along the ropes of the ring. The psychological game, together with the best physical preparation in relation to the opponent were essential for the victory.
.@SpiderAnderson doing #AndersonSilva things!#TributeToTheKings
PPV: https://t.co/cUFR9Hvg9P pic.twitter.com/OM4sVY3iLY
— FITE (@FiteTV) June 20, 2021
The Spider started to show superiority from the second round onwards, but it was in the third and fourth rounds that the former UFC middleweight champion put on a real show, absorbing the blows applied by the Mexican and responding at the height, with combinations of crosses, jabs and clinch attacks, which at various times forced Julio Cezar Chavez Jr to walk backwards.
.@SpiderAnderson wins a split decision over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.!!!!!
77-75 77-75 (For Silva) 75-77 (For Chavez Jr)#TributetotheKings
PPV: https://t.co/ZUiLgsTmuO pic.twitter.com/7bda85FU9l
— FITE (@FiteTV) June 20, 2021
In the previous rounds, Anderson kept his dominance, and aware of the advantage he gained, he started to adopt more rythmn, without ceasing to strike, also highlighting very well placed jabs, in addition to precise straight-line attacks, which were frustrating any onslaught of the former world champion.
With 77-75 on the scoreboard, Anderson Silva was declared the winner in a split decision after eight rounds of fighting and won a fight again, which hasn’t happened since February 2017, when he defeated Derek Brunson at UFC 208. In Boxing, it’s worth mentioning, the Brazilian made his debut in 1998, being knocked out. The comeback came seven years later, and in his second appearance, he was victorious by knockout.
