After leaving the UFC, Anderson
Silva signed a contract to face Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. in a
boxing match on June 19 at a soccer stadium in Jalisco,
Guadalajara, México.
Eleven years older than the former world boxing champion, the
46-year-old former UFC middleweight king brought his boxing coach,
Luiz Dorea, from Brazil to care of his training.
“We will have 11 weeks until the fight, which will be at a
catchweight (182 pounds) in 8 rounds of 3 minutes. If Chavez has
the age advantage, Anderson has the size advantage,” Dorea told
Sherdog.com.
The boxing coach sees the matchup as a clash of opposite
styles.
“What I like about that fight is that it will be a clash of totally
different styles,” Dorea said. “Cesar Chavez is a tough guy who
likes to close the distance, put his head on his opponent’s chest
and use crosses, hooks and uppercuts in the infight, while Anderson
has the movement and distance control as his differential, using
more jabs and straight punches.”
Dorea feels that the the elder Julio Cesar Chavez, Chavez Jr.’s
father, is the Boxing GOAT and is excited to coach against him.
“For me he is the best boxer ever. It will be such an honor to face
my idol in the opposite corner,” Dorea said.
Dorea also discussed the revolution YouTube personality Jake Paul has
sparked in recent months thanks to viral knockouts of former NBA
player Nate Robinson and more recently, ex-Bellator MMA and One
Championship title holder Ben
Askren.
“What this kid has done was good both for boxing and the MMA
world,” Dorea said. “Anything that attracts more fans to the sport
is really positive, but of course he is a very smart guy and knows
his limits. Askren is a wrestler. If he faces a fighter with real
boxing experience, like Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira for example, who is retired but was a Pan
American Boxing champion, there is no chance he lasts more than
four rounds, even with Rogerio retired.”
In closing, offered some positive news regarding Junior dos
Santos, who was recently released from the UFC following a
lengthy tenure.
“He got proposals from boxing and MMA organizations and soon good
news is coming,” Dorea said. “All I can say is that I would love to
see him fighting in both. But let´s wait and see.”