Wanderlei
Silva will follow in the footsteps of fellow Brazilians
Anderson
Silva, Vitor
Belfort, Jose Aldo and
Ronaldo
Souza and try his hand at the Sweet Science later this
year.
The 47-year-old Pride Fighting Championships legend revealed Sunday
that he will face bodybuilder Felipe Franco on Nov. 25 in a boxing
match under the Attack Fight Show banner. Silva made the
announcement at a body building event called Muscle Contest Brasil,
where “The Axe Murderer” and Franco faced off for the first
time.
“My friends, fans and admirers, I am here to share news that fills
my heart with emotion and excitement,” Silva wrote on Instagram.
“After some time away from the ring, I’m back, but this time in a
different style: boxing. I will be facing a major challenger,
Felipe Franco, a renowned bodybuilder and a force to be recognized.
This will be a battle of determination, strength and strategy. I’m
looking forward to the fight night, the sound of the gong
announcing the start of an intense battle. We will face each other
with respect and courage, knowing that, in the end, only the best
will prevail. Get ready for an epic fight, full of emotion and
determination, because I’m back in the ring, ready to show the
world all my power.”
One of the most respected fighters of the Pride era, Silva owns a
35-14-1 mark with one no contest over the course of an MMA career
that began in 1996 and also included stints in the UFC and
Bellator. His last appearance came in September 2018, when he
suffered a second-round TKO loss to Quinton
Jackson at Bellator 206.
Franco, 37, is a state deputy in Sao Paulo and was once champion of
the Arnold Classic, a famous bodybuilding competition. He will be
making his combat sports debut.