Anderson Silva shocks boxing world, announces police academy plan after KO win on Netflix card

Anderson Silva stunned fans worldwide Friday night by announcing a career switch to law enforcement live on Netflix moments after defeating Tyron Woodley in boxing on the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua card. The 50-year-old Brazilian icon delivered a second-round knockout and used a postfight interview to reveal plans to pursue public service rather than retire from combat sports.

Woodley, seven years younger and competing in boxing for the second time since leaving mixed martial arts, was unable to match Silva’s tempo. Silva unloaded a sustained flurry that ended the fight in the second round, leaving Woodley with a loss in his third professional boxing appearance. Silva, meanwhile, appeared visibly emotional in the ring and dropped to his knees before addressing the crowd during an interview with Ariel Helwani.

During the interview, Silva said: "I mean, I'll keep doing it. [But] You know, I'll go back to work right now and start my police academy [with the] Beverly Hills PD." Helwani pressed whether that moment signaled the end of his boxing arc, but Silva indicated he would continue fighting while pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Silva also used the moment to issue a callout to former UFC rival Chris Weidman for a boxing match, a line that underscored the veteran’s willingness to stay in combat sports while pursuing a new public-service path. Weidman and Silva shared a storied rivalry in the UFC, including title battles earlier in their careers; this possible cross-code matchup would be a testament to the longevity of both athletes’ careers.

The moment capped a career in one of combat sports’ most storied runs. Silva held the UFC middleweight title for 2,457 days, from 2006 to 2013, the longest title reign in UFC history at the time. He posted 16 consecutive victories during that period and defended the middleweight championship 10 times, cementing his status as one of the sport’s most dominant figures. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July 2023, a recognition of his impact before transitioning to boxing.

The event itself, headlined by Paul vs. Joshua, drew global attention to a crossover card that blended mainstream boxing interest with established UFC legends. Silva’s knockout win, followed by a move into law enforcement, added a striking narrative arc to a spectacle that has frequently blurred the lines between different combat disciplines. While the boxing match and Netflix format anchored the headlines, the lasting impression was Silva’s pivot toward public service, a path he described as a way to give back to the community while continuing to compete on his own terms.

As the boxing world processes the surprise development, analysts will weigh Silva’s commitment to training and his ability to balance a police career with ongoing competition. For fans, the moment underscored Silva’s enduring appeal and willingness to chart a bold, unconventional course well beyond the traditional retirement arc that typically follows a long title run.