KEY POINTS

  • Former UFC champ Anderson Silva is set to face boxing sensation Julio Cezar Chavez Jr.
  • Silva is thrilled to have his boxing skills tested
  • Chavez Jr. vows to make the Silva fight the start of a new chapter in his boxing career

A UFC legend is all set for an unexpected and thrilling return to combat sports.

Shocking news broke earlier this month when boxing Hall of Famer Julio Cezar Chavez Sr. announced his return. The 58-year-old will be headlining “Tribute To The Kings” on June 19 in a special exhibition bout against 42-year-old Hector Camacho Jr.

What’s even more interesting, Chavez Sr.’s son Julio Cezar Chavez Jr. will also be taking part of the said event as he is set to take on former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, TMZ Sports reported.

According to the report, Silva, 45, has officially agreed to fight Chavez Jr. in a boxing match following an earlier ESPN Argentina report that states the former middleweight boxing champ personally requested the UFC legend to be his opponent.

The said fight will take place at Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, and will air live on pay-per-view as well.

In this handout image provided by UFC, Anderson Silva of Brazil reacts after his loss to Uriah Hall in a middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX
In this handout image provided by UFC, Anderson Silva of Brazil reacts after his loss to Uriah Hall in a middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX. Getty Images | Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Ahead of his boxing debut, Silva admitted that as he reflects on his illustrious career, he realized that he has never been at risk.

“The Spider” stressed that fighting is his DNA and a boxing match against a decorated fighter like Chavez Jr. is a great opportunity to see what he can do inside the ring.

"When I look back at my journey, I see that nothing has been in vain," Silva said in the press release.

"I am extremely happy for the opportunity to test my boxing skills with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. I train continuously, always am striving for resilience and to overcome obstacles,” he added. “Fighting is my everlasting breath."

Chavez Jr., on the other hand, bared that his decision to fight Silva marks the beginning of his goal to take on “anyone” who wants a piece of him in the light heavyweight division.

"I have rededicated myself to the sport I love and I will be ready to face anyone in the light heavyweight division starting with [Anderson] Silva," the 35-year-old stated in the release. "I will be prepared to be victorious on June 19."

Both Silva and Chavez Jr. are big names in the world of combat sports.

Silva was a former undisputed UFC middleweight champion and was viewed by many as arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time.

Chavez Jr., meanwhile, broke onto the boxing scene by winning his first 47 fights and became the WBC middleweight champion.

Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. believes Canelo Alvarez is using performance enhancing drugs rather than a case of meat contamination. Pictured, Alvarez (L) and Chavez Jr (R) pose for a photograph during a news conference ahead of WBC brawl in Las Vegas, in Mexico City, Feb. 20, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso
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