Silva's Manager Responds to CSAC: "Other fighters have fought in Japan under suspension and come back to fight under the same commission."

ElixteXC Heavyweight Champion “Big Foot” Antonio Silva’s (11-1) manager, Alexander Davis, responded to the California State Athletic Commission’s warning against Silva fighting in Japan while under suspension in California exclusively at Fighters.com

Davis said, “I would like to remind Mr. [Bill] Douglas and the CSAC that this has happened before.  Other fighters have fought overseas under suspension and come back to fight under the same commission without a problem.”

In fact, “Phenom” Vitor Belfort (16-8) was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for nine months following a positive test for anabolic steroids after losing to Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked light heavyweight “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (23-7) at Pride 32 in Las Vegas in October 2006.

While under suspension in Nevada, Belfort fought twice in Cage Rage in the United Kingdom, then returned to be licensed by the CSAC before his bout versus Terry Martin (18-5) at Affliction: Banned in Anaheim, east of Los Angeles, 19 July.

Fighters.com assumes Belfort was reinstated by the NSAC before the CSAC licensed him.

Thursday morning CSAC Staff Analyst Bill Douglas told Fighters.com that the CSAC would consider Silva fighting in Japan as a violation of Silva’s suspension.

“This all comes back to our certainty of Antonio’s innocence and our ability to prove it or to the Commission’s inability to prove him guilty beyond reasonable doubt,” Davis said, but added, “I do understand the Commission’s position on Antonio fighting in Japan, but sure as Hell dont agree with it.”  If this does turn into reality that is.”