Anderson Silva knows how to fight, there’s no doubt about that.
The UFC legend, however, hasn’t boxed in more than 15 years.
That, though, didn’t seem to matter one bit on Saturday night.
Silva beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico, via split decision in an eight-round fight. The bout was part of the Tribute to the Kings event, which was capped by Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.’s fight with Hector Camacho Jr.
Flashes of the UFC came out in the early rounds on Saturday night, as Silva was warned about using his forearm more while he settled into the different sport. He didn’t hesitate to showboat early, either.
By the fourth round, though, he seemed to have found his rhythm. Silva landed multiple solid shots and had Chavez Jr. backed into the ropes for most of the round while taking control of the bout.
Silva had him back pinned on the ropes again just two rounds later, too, while Chavez looked gassed. Chavez’s eye started bleeding significantly by the end of the seventh round, too, as Silva just cruised through the eighth round with ease.
