The high-profile fight between YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul and UFC legend Anderson Silva looked to be in jeopardy, with the Arizona Boxing Commission calling for a special meeting last night to decide whether Silva was fit to compete, but following medical examinations, the bout is set to go ahead.
Yesterday, it looked like Jake Paul’s bad luck with opponents was set to continue as his fight with Anderson Silva was poised to be his fourth cancelled bout in the last 12 months, following two with Tommy Fury and one with Hasim Rahman Jr.
However, 47-year-old Silva has been given the all-clear and tomorrow he will attempt to be the first person to beat the controversial ‘Problem Child’ since he made the switch to professional boxing.
Doubts were cast over the health and preparation of ‘Spider’ Silva after he revealed that he had been knocked out twice in sparring, but the Brazilian has since claimed that he misspoke.
This led to concerns by medical professionals and the Arizona Boxing Commission and an emergency meeting being called, but after a “pristine MRI” was submitted by the former UFC middleweight champion, all parties were satisfied with the fight going ahead.
MMAFighting.com revealed that commissioner Ara J. Feinstein, a trauma surgeon and ringside doctor admitted that he was “extremely concerned” with the comments made by Silva, but has been convinced that he is fit to fight by the results of medical examinations.
“Given all the work we’ve done on concussion protocol and emphasis we’ve been placing on fighter safety, it just left me really concerned,”
“However, once I had further information, the letter from Silva, the written statement from his trainer, and more importantly, the results of the medical examinations and the approval of the physician reading the report, I became much more comfortable, and I have no objections to Mr. Silva participating in the event this Saturday.”
Paul and Silva headline the show at the Gila River Arena in Arizona, where NFL star LeVeon Bell fights former UFC fighter Uriah Hall on the undercard.