UFC legend Anderson Silva pulled off a massive upset as defeated an experience pro boxer - former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - in an eight-round fight in Mexico.
The 46-year-old Silva, who has now retired from MMA, was giving away size, experience and 11 years in age to Chavez Jr (who boasted 52 wins from 59 fights going into Saturday's contest).
But 'The Spider' pulled off an improbable victory, as he actually dropped his hands showboated while beating a 35-year-old involved in his 60th pro boxing contest. The Brazilian eventually won a split decision in Mexico.
Chavez Jr - son of the greatest Mexican fighter of them all in Julio Cesar Chavez - went 12 rounds with Canelo Alvarez in 2017.
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He came in overweight for this bout - incurring a $100,000 fine which went on to Silva's purse - and is widely considered to have wasted his ability through ill-discipline. But a fighter with this much top-level experience was expected to handily defeat a supposedly washed-up MMA fighter.
But Silva, boxing as a southpaw, landed the more eye-catching shots - including a fourth-round uppercut. Chavez was also bloodied by the final round and, after the bell, two of the three judges favoured Silva (77-75, 75-77, 77-75).
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Boxing's pound-for-pound king, Canelo himself, was watching ringside and congratulated Silva post-fight.
The former UFC middleweight champion - who still holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history - has boxed twice before. He lost a contest in 1998 and won in 2005, but had never taken on anyone of the supposed calibre of Chavez Jr.
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His 34-11 MMA record is misleading as Silva lost seven of his last nine contests. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greats in his sport - but he is long past his prime.
However he still had enough left in the tank to switch sports and beat Chavez Jr on his home soil, despite giving away every advantage.
A remarkable victory for Silva and a fresh new humiliation for the 'Son of a Legend' Chavez Jr.
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Topics: Anderson Silva, Boxing, UFC, MMA
