Gabriel Silva, son of UFC legend Anderson Silva, returns to the boxing ring Saturday to problem Anthony Taylor for the Misfits gentle heavyweight title at X Collection 17 in Dublin, Eire, and goals of the day he’ll maintain world titles as effectively.
Silva has been victorious in three boxing matches to this point between each skilled and exhibition contests, and desires to “broaden” his father’s title to a special sport after “The Spider’s” historic success in blended martial arts.
“That’s my closing aim, to be world champion [in boxing],” Silva informed MMA Preventing. “I’ve skilled with world champions earlier than, I’ve examined myself towards world champions, and I do know I’ve what it takes to be a world champion in the future. That’s the ultimate aim, to combat for world titles on this sport and produce our title to the game of boxing and never solely in MMA, to sort of broaden it to different horizons.”
Silva grew up watching his father defend the UFC middleweight title — and was within the enviornment for a lot of of his wins — however doesn’t plan on beginning a profession in blended martial arts.
“Rising up with my father and my household, I’ve at all times had this martial arts mindset and knew a little bit of all the things,” Silva mentioned. “I’ve fought kickboxing and Muay Thai, I plan on competing in jiu-jitsu sooner or later, and perhaps combat MMA as effectively, however not like beginning a profession. Only for the expertise, actually. I’ve skilled MMA and adopted a lot of my father’s camps, and legends like [Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira] ‘Minotauro’. I feel it might be sort of silly to not be a part of this world as effectively. I feel it’s actually fascinating, however my focus is on boxing.”
Silva mentioned sharing the ring as soon as with WBO and IBF middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (15-0) and WBO International tremendous welterweight champion Slawa Spomer (19-0) at Brickhouse Boxing Membership has given him the boldness to pursue gold.
“[Alimkhanuly] is a troublesome man, very expert, and it was good coaching,” Silva mentioned. “We did six robust rounds, so it was nice expertise. I’ve additionally sparred with champions from Germany as effectively, Slawa Spomer, who’s additionally very robust. We did good sparring at Brickhouse in North Hollywood. I’ve nice coaching on the fitness center, very high-level athletes, so you may get expertise from all of them.”
Silva revealed that Misfits thought of holding an occasion in Brazil earlier this yr and tried so as to add “The Spider” to the cardboard as effectively, nevertheless it didn’t come to fruition. The UFC veteran ended up competing in an exhibition match towards Chael Sonnen at Spaten Struggle Night time in June, and Kalyl Silva was featured on the cardboard. Gabriel was approached with a suggestion to be on the cardboard, however the deal wasn’t closed.
Silva leaves the door open to probably share a card along with his father in the future, and has one acquainted title in thoughts his dream match for “The Spider” in boxing.
“Preventing is air for my father, he can’t reside with out it,” Silva mentioned. “There are a number of opponents, however the one I personally want to see is Roy Jones Jr. They’re each tremendous technical and it might be tremendous cool to look at regardless of the age. I feel it might be very fascinating. That’s a combat [Anderson] has requested for therefore lengthy and it by no means occurred.”
For now, the 27-year-old Silva focuses on clinching his first title belt on the earth of boxing reside on DAZN PPV, and respects Taylor as an opponent. The five-fight Bellator veteran, who as soon as confronted Tommy Fury in boxing, is endeavor a fast turnaround after defending his Misfits belt earlier this month with a second-round stoppage of Samuel Ericsson.
“He has sort of adjusted a couple of issues in his sport,” Silva mentioned. “He was doing extra clinch work earlier than, and ended up ending the man. He has modified a bit, coming extra aggressive, however we’re prepared for this. I’ve one of the best coach, I’m coaching at one of the best fitness center, so we’re prepared for no matter comes.”
