Roy Jones Jr. thought he was performed.
After celebrating his 54th birthday in January, the legendary former multi-division boxing champion was glad with the profession he put collectively and had no plans to compete once more. Then he received the decision that former UFC champion Anthony Pettis was interested by crossing over for a boxing match — and Jones simply couldn’t move up the chance.
“I wished to struggle Anderson Silva but it surely simply saved getting pushed to the aspect, pushed to the aspect, pushed to the aspect. It by no means occurred,” Jones stated on the Gamebred Boxing 4 press convention. “I used to be type of useless on all of it. I used to be type of by way of with boxing. I used to be like, no, I’m performed, I shouldn’t struggle no extra. I’m good. I’m 54 years outdated. Then they stated, ‘You realize, one of many biggest ever at 155 [pounds] stated he would come up in weight to struggle you and also you don’t have to come back no decrease than 200.’ So it began sounding type of intriguing.
“[Pettis] could be very progressive in what he does too. He’s performed issues within the MMA ring that no one else received’t ever do. For me to get the chance to face someone who has that very same sort of inventive thoughts in their very own respective sport as I’ve in boxing, it’s like, ‘Wait a minute — do you have to say no to this?’ I wish to say no but it surely’s Dean [Toole], it’s ‘Gamebred,’ it’s Milwaukee. Like, have you ever ever fought in Milwaukee earlier than? No. So I assume the professionals outweighed the nos. So right here we’re.”
Whereas crossover fights between boxing and MMA are pretty widespread at this level, Jones credit himself as the one who initially had that concept when he pursued the struggle with Silva, who was nonetheless UFC middleweight champion on the time.
Sadly, Jones and Silva by no means received the prospect to satisfy within the ring, however the boxers versus MMA fighters phenomenon has undoubtedly taken off lately.
That stated, whereas Jones is having fun with the method preparing for Pettis, he guarantees that this can be a one-night solely affair. He’s hanging up his gloves afterward and has no plans to pursue future fights in opposition to boxers or MMA fighters.
“On the finish of my profession, I nonetheless wished to do it as a result of I stated I wished to do it,” Jones stated. “Right here’s an ideal alternative [against] a man who can also be a legend at what he did. Yeah, he was at a smaller weight class, however he’s up at 205 kilos once they talked to him about it so he’s large enough, so he is aware of easy methods to deal with himself and I do know he’s going to go onerous together with his boxing, as a result of he’s one of many greats.
“I’m not planning on doing it once more, no. Just for Anthony, I’m doing this. Anthony wished to vary and attempt to cross over into this sport. With him and [Jorge] Masvidal and everybody else concerned, all of them made it such a very good scenario that it’s a win-win for everyone. It’s a very good scenario, it’s pay-per-view, it’s one thing I wished to do, which was a crossover struggle with a very good identify in MMA. I used to be the primary one which got here up with that concept and I didn’t get to do it. However I got here up with the thought.”
On paper, Jones needs to be an amazing favourite to beat Pettis simply primarily based on expertise alone, however he’s not banking on the previous to avoid wasting him within the current day.
He is aware of this can be a once-in-a-lifetime struggle for Pettis, so Jones is taking him severely as a result of the very last thing he desires is to be embarrassed in what needs to be his ultimate look within the boxing ring.
“He is aware of what he’s doing,” Jones stated of Pettis. “He’s not a idiot. He’s a very good striker, sparring with good fighters. Caleb Plant is a former world champion. He’s getting the suitable sparring in. He’s doing the suitable issues to prepare for a boxing match. He’s not enjoying. He’s severe about it.
“To be trustworthy, to see how Jake Paul was capable of make the transition and all that he did to make that a lot cash in boxing, he evokes individuals to do the identical factor. So you understand that [Pettis] is aware of that he can get an opportunity, get a win, he’s going to be onto greater and higher issues. So he’s placing his all into it.”
