Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. is asking for privacy after revealing his son took his own life Saturday.
Boxing legend [autotag]Roy Jones Jr.[/autotag] asked for privacy Monday after he revealed the death of his son DeAndre by suicide.
A written statement posted by Jones on social media platforms, indicated DeAndre committed suicide Saturday. Jones said he spent DeAndre’s final evening with him and other family members.
“Unfortunately, my son DeAndre took his own life on Saturday,” Jones wrote. “I’m so thankful that God allowed me to come home Friday night to spend the last night of his life with me [sic] and the family. I know a lot of people are going through tough times right now, but nothing is worth taking your own life. God gives it and God should be the one to take it away.
“Please respect our privacy while my family and I process this loss.”
DeAndre is survived by his father, his mother Natlyn, and siblings DeShaun and Roy III.
Jones Jr., 55, is an all-time boxing great with a record of 66-10. He held major championships in four weight divisions across the span of his career. He competed as recently as April 2023 when he lost to former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.
Mike Tyson said that his meeting with Jake Pau on July 20 will be an exhibition but added that “this is a fight.”
The Mike Tyson-Jake Paul bout on July 20 will be an exhibition, not a sanctioned bout.
That clarification came from Tyson, who added that because it’s an exhibition doesn’t necessarily mean it will be fun and games. He said he and his young opponent will be all business in the ring.
“This is called an exhibition, but if you look up ‘exhibition’ you will not see any of the rules will be fighting under. This is a fight,” Tyson said, per Fox News.
Tyson, who will be 58 on June 30, and Paul, a 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer, will meet on pay-per-view from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the 80,000-seat home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Tyson was last in the ring in April 2020, when he and Roy Jones Jr. engaged in an exhibition.
The former heavyweight champion weighed 220 pounds for that fight. Paul has been fighting as a cruiserweight, with a limit of 200.
Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) hasn’t taken part in an official bout since June 2005, when he was stopped by journeyman Kevin McBride. He retired shortly afterward.
Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) is coming off back-to-back first-round knockouts, against Andre August in December and Ryan Bourland in March.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo: Who are the greatest 168-pounders ever?
Canelo Alvarez might be in decline but no one has been able to beat at super middleweight.
The Mexican star has a record of 8-0 (4 KOs) and became the first undisputed champion at 168 pounds in the four-belt era, making him one of the most accomplished fighters the division has ever produced.
The list below provides you with an idea of the super middleweights against whom he’ll be judged when all is said and done.
Here are the five greatest 168-pounders of all time.
(Note: The division came into being when the IBF introduced the weight class in 1984. Also, weights above 160 pounds and no higher than 168 are designated as super middleweight here.)
NO. 5 CARL FROCH
Overall record: 33-2 (24 KOs) 168-pound record: 25-2 (KOs) 168-pound titles: WBC 2008-10; WBC 2010-11; IBF 2012-15; WBA 2013-15 Hall of Fame: Yes Background: Froch was more than a tough, fan-friendly fighter who delivered one of the great walk-off moments in boxing history. The Englishman deserves to be on this list. He had three reigns as champion over a period of six-plus years, he beat everyone he faced except Hall of Famer Andre Ward (he avenged a loss to rival Mikkel Kessler), and his list of notable victims is long – Robin Reid, Jean Pascal, Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Arthur Abraham, Glen Johnson, Lucian Bute, Yusaf Mack, George Groves (twice) and more. That’s an impressive run. On top of that, his exit from boxing was legendary: A one-punch knockout of Groves in front 80,000 screaming fans at Wembley Stadium in London. He was neither a boxing wizard nor typically a one-punch knockout artist. He was just a skillful, supremely confident bad-ass who knew how to win fights.
NO. 4 NIGEL BENN
Overall record: 42-5-1 (35 KOs) 168-pound record: 33-3-1 (27 KOs) 168-pound titles: WBC (1992-96) Hall of Fame: No Background: Benn is on this list in part because of his 10th-round knockout of Gerald McClellan in 1995. I hate to praise Benn too much because the brave McClellan suffered brain damage in that fight and never fought again. However, you have to understand how good McClellan was at the time. He was destroying everything in his path going into the fight, which made Benn’s ability to beat him a career-defining accomplishment. The well-schooled power puncher from London had a reign of about 3½ years and made nine successful defenses, including a draw with rival Chris Eubank in their rematch that most people thought should’ve gone Benn’s way. That would’ve been a huge win for him. And, finally, Benn was one of the most entertaining fighters of all time. That’s never lost on me.
NO. 3 JOE CALZAGHE
Overall record: 46-0 (32 KOs) 168-pound record: 33-0 (22 KOs) 168-pound titles: WBO (1997-2008), IBF (2006), WBA (2007-08), WBC (2007-08) Hall of Fame: Yes Background: Calzaghe was a special fighter. The Welshman reigned as champion for more than a decade and was 21-0 in 168-pound title fights. Those are crazy numbers. I don’t think anyone accomplished more at the weight. In terms of his skills, he was a southpaw who had it all. He was quick, athletic, could move well and had power, although he recorded fewer knockouts as his opposition got better. He also has a long list of notable victims – Chris Eubank, Robin Reid, Omar Sheika, Rickie Woodhall, Charles Brewer, Mikkel Kessler and more. He never ducked anyone. I wish he would’ve taken part in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, in which he might’ve faced Andre Ward. All in all, though, he was great.
NO. 2 ANDRE WARD
Overall record: 32-0 (16 KOs) 168-pound record: 19-0 (8 KOs) 168-pound titles: WBA (2009-15), WBC (2011-12) Hall of Fame: Yes Background: The product of Oakland, California, was an all-time great. He won an Olympic gold medal in 2004 but really burst onto the scene when he won the Super Six World Boxing Classic, in which he beat Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch in succession to win the championship even though he was unproven at the time. He became a star instantaneously. He had a six-year reign at 168, although that was interrupted by a contract dispute. He also beat Edison Miranda and Chad Dawson, among others. And he went on to have success at 175 pounds. I compared him to an anaconda. He would wrap himself around you in a way that diffused anything you tried to do. He was a brilliant boxer.
NO. 1 ROY JONES JR.
Overall record: 66-10 (47 KOs) 168-pound record: 13-0 (11 KOs) 168-pound titles: IBF (1994-96) Hall of Fame: Yes Background: Jones didn’t campaign in the division as long as the others here but he was dazzling at the weight. The physical freak from Florida boxed circles around everyone he faced, was difficult to hit cleanly and had devastating one-punch knockout power. Thus, no one could compete with him when he was at his best. His greatest victories at 168 came against then-unbeaten pound-for-pounder James Toney, Thulani Malinga, Thomas Tate, Antoine Byrd, Vinny Pazienza and Eric Lucas. I like a quote from boxing historian Cliff Rold. He wrote: “It’s not a stretch to say he may never have lost a single round contested in the class.” I don’t believe anyone before or since could’ve touched Jones at super middleweight. And he was just getting started. He was at his best at 175.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo: Who are the greatest 168-pounders ever?
Canelo Alvarez might be in decline but no one has been able to beat at super middleweight.
The Mexican star has a record of 8-0 (4 KOs) and became the first undisputed champion at 168 pounds in the four-belt era, making him one of the most accomplished fighters the division has ever produced.
The list below provides you with an idea of the super middleweights against whom he’ll be judged when all is said and done.
Here are the five greatest 168-pounders of all time.
(Note: The division came into being when the IBF introduced the weight class in 1984. Also, weights above 160 pounds and no higher than 168 are designated as super middleweight here.)
NO. 5 CARL FROCH
Overall record: 33-2 (24 KOs) 168-pound record: 25-2 (KOs) 168-pound titles: WBC 2008-10; WBC 2010-11; IBF 2012-15; WBA 2013-15 Hall of Fame: Yes Background: Froch was more than a tough, fan-friendly fighter who delivered one of the great walk-off moments in boxing history. The Englishman deserves to be on this list. He had three reigns as champion over a period of six-plus years, he beat everyone he faced except Hall of Famer Andre Ward (he avenged a loss to rival Mikkel Kessler), and his list of notable victims is long – Robin Reid, Jean Pascal, Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Arthur Abraham, Glen Johnson, Lucian Bute, Yusaf Mack, George Groves (twice) and more. That’s an impressive run. On top of that, his exit from boxing was legendary: A one-punch knockout of Groves in front 80,000 screaming fans at Wembley Stadium in London. He was neither a boxing wizard nor typically a one-punch knockout artist. He was just a skillful, supremely confident bad-ass who knew how to win fights.
NO. 4 NIGEL BENN
Overall record: 42-5-1 (35 KOs) 168-pound record: 33-3-1 (27 KOs) 168-pound titles: WBC (1992-96) Hall of Fame: No Background: Benn is on this list in part because of his 10th-round knockout of Gerald McClellan in 1995. I hate to praise Benn too much because the brave McClellan suffered brain damage in that fight and never fought again. However, you have to understand how good McClellan was at the time. He was destroying everything in his path going into the fight, which made Benn’s ability to beat him a career-defining accomplishment. The well-schooled power puncher from London had a reign of about 3½ years and made nine successful defenses, including a draw with rival Chris Eubank in their rematch that most people thought should’ve gone Benn’s way. That would’ve been a huge win for him. And, finally, Benn was one of the most entertaining fighters of all time. That’s never lost on me.
NO. 3 JOE CALZAGHE
Overall record: 46-0 (32 KOs) 168-pound record: 33-0 (22 KOs) 168-pound titles: WBO (1997-2008), IBF (2006), WBA (2007-08), WBC (2007-08) Hall of Fame: Yes Background: Calzaghe was a special fighter. The Welshman reigned as champion for more than a decade and was 21-0 in 168-pound title fights. Those are crazy numbers. I don’t think anyone accomplished more at the weight. In terms of his skills, he was a southpaw who had it all. He was quick, athletic, could move well and had power, although he recorded fewer knockouts as his opposition got better. He also has a long list of notable victims – Chris Eubank, Robin Reid, Omar Sheika, Rickie Woodhall, Charles Brewer, Mikkel Kessler and more. He never ducked anyone. I wish he would’ve taken part in the Super Six World Boxing Classic, in which he might’ve faced Andre Ward. All in all, though, he was great.
NO. 2 ANDRE WARD
Overall record: 32-0 (16 KOs) 168-pound record: 19-0 (8 KOs) 168-pound titles: WBA (2009-15), WBC (2011-12) Hall of Fame: Yes Background: The product of Oakland, California, was an all-time great. He won an Olympic gold medal in 2004 but really burst onto the scene when he won the Super Six World Boxing Classic, in which he beat Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Arthur Abraham and Carl Froch in succession to win the championship even though he was unproven at the time. He became a star instantaneously. He had a six-year reign at 168, although that was interrupted by a contract dispute. He also beat Edison Miranda and Chad Dawson, among others. And he went on to have success at 175 pounds. I compared him to an anaconda. He would wrap himself around you in a way that diffused anything you tried to do. He was a brilliant boxer.
NO. 1 ROY JONES JR.
Overall record: 66-10 (47 KOs) 168-pound record: 13-0 (11 KOs) 168-pound titles: IBF (1994-96) Hall of Fame: Yes Background: Jones didn’t campaign in the division as long as the others here but he was dazzling at the weight. The physical freak from Florida boxed circles around everyone he faced, was difficult to hit cleanly and had devastating one-punch knockout power. Thus, no one could compete with him when he was at his best. His greatest victories at 168 came against then-unbeaten pound-for-pounder James Toney, Thulani Malinga, Thomas Tate, Antoine Byrd, Vinny Pazienza and Eric Lucas. I like a quote from boxing historian Cliff Rold. He wrote: “It’s not a stretch to say he may never have lost a single round contested in the class.” I don’t believe anyone before or since could’ve touched Jones at super middleweight. And he was just getting started. He was at his best at 175.
See the disclosed payouts for Anthony Pettis, Roy Jones. Jr., Vitor Belfort, Jose Aldo, and more, per the state of Wisconsin.
Gamebred Boxing 4 took place Saturday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisc., where six fighters took home six-figure paydays as a result of their bouts.
Thursday, MMA Junkie acquired a list of the disclosed payouts from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, which oversees the state’s athletic commission and regulation of combat sports events.
The amounts reflect the disclosed payouts only and do not include any off-contract bonuses, sponsor payments, or discretionary bonuses.
Of the 26 fighters to compete on the card, 20 were on flat purse contracts, while the remaining six fighters were on show-win deals. Headliners [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] and [autotag]Roy Jones Jr.[/autotag] took home the largest purses of the bunch, as they combined for $1,350,000.
The total payout for all fighters on the card was $2,827,700.
Scroll below to see what the 26 fighters on Gamebred Boxing 4 were paid – disclosed amounts only.
Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua was a winner – and a loser – in his uninspiring victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in London.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER Anthony Joshua
The former heavyweight champion’s new trainer Derrick James said after the fact that all he wanted was a victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday at O2 Arena in London. Decision or knockout, it didn’t matter. Mission accomplished. Joshua controlled the fight from the outset with his power jab and plenty of hard, accurate right hands. The smaller Franklin was willing but didn’t have the wherewithal to avoid the incoming shots or deliver his own with any consistency. Thus, no one was surprised when the official scores were announced: 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111, which was music to the ears of those close to Joshua. He was back in the win column after three long years and had taken a significant step in the right direction following crippling back-to-back losses against Oleksander Usyk. The victory could lead directly to a showdown against countryman and titleholder Tyson Fury. Or, if that’s not possible immediately, Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte are viable options on Joshua’s continuing journey of redemption. Bottom line: Joshua is back in business.
BIGGEST LOSER Anthony Joshua
Anthony Joshua got the victory but didn’t make a strong statement. James Chance / Getty Images
Joshua got the job done but it wasn’t his finest hour. And that might not bode well for him. Let’s face it: He has never been the same since Andy Ruiz Jr. hurt him in the third round and stopped him in the seventh in an unforgettable 2019 upset. He rebounded by outpointing Ruiz in the rematch and then knocking out 39-year-old Pulev but the ferocious knockout artist of the pre-Ruiz years was gone, having given way to a capable, but careful boxer who has no interest in taking unnecessary risks lest he be stopped again. The old, confident Joshua would’ve destroyed a second-tier opponent like Franklin. The current version spent as much time holding his frustrated opponent as punching him late in the fight, when Franklin was particularly vulnerable to a knockout. That was a bad look. Joshua wanted to stop Franklin, he wanted to make a statement, he wanted to show everyone that he’s still the great heavyweight who took out Hall of Famer Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. The problem for him? That’s no longer who he is.
BIGGEST MISMATCH? Fury vs. Joshua
Could Joshua beat Tyson Fury? Ringo Chiu, Fayez Nureldine / AFP via Getty Images
One should never count out a fighter as talented as Joshua. And make no mistake: Joshua is a fine boxer, as he demonstrated in his second fight with Usyk. He came within a handful punches of turning the tables on his Ukrainian rival, which would’ve been a major accomplishment. I just don’t see how this version of Joshua beats Fury, however. Fury is bigger, better and mentally much tougher than the skittish Joshua. Joshua might be a bigger puncher but how far is that going to take him? He couldn’t stop Franklin. Can he be expected to do so against a man who survived three fights against Deontay Wilder? It doesn’t seem likely. The fight might look a lot like Fury’s meeting with the 39-year-old Klitschko, who has a similar style to Joshua. He fought behind his strong jab and pounded his opponents with straight right hands. A younger, less experienced Fury neutralized everything Klitschko tried to do and won a clear decision in his break-out fight. Would it be any different against Joshua? Not likely.
RABBIT PUNCHCES
Roy Jones Jr., 54, lost a majority decision in a sanctioned bout against former UFC champion Anthony Pettis on Saturday in Milwaukee even though Pettis had no boxing experience. And Jones (66-10, 47 KOs) said more such fights are to come. Fighters in their mid-50s shouldn’t be allowed to take part in sanctioned bouts, in which both parties are expected to hold nothing back in the most dangerous of sports. Shame on officials in Wisconsin. Why not take part in exhibitions if Jones wants to stay in the game, as he did with Mike Tyson in 2020? Then the participants can put on a show and make money without taking risks inherent in genuine fights. This just doesn’t feel right. … Robeisy Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) climbed all the way back from his disastrous loss in his pro debut, outclassing and easily outpointing former 122-pound beltholder Isaac Dogboe (24-3, 15 KOs) to win a vacant 126-pound title Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Obviously the two-time Olympic champion from Cuba is an excellent boxer. And he’s going to get better if he remains focused. The southpaw relies almost solely on spacing and his left hand. If he would use his jab and throw more combinations, he could be scary good. … Dogboe didn’t handle his post-fight interview well, arguing in so many words that he was robbed and demanding a rematch. Let’s not be too hard on him; his emotions got the better of him. But, c’mon. It wasn’t a close fight. And he’s not getting a rematch. It’s almost always best to say something like, “Hey, it wasn’t my night tonight,” and move on.
Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua was a winner – and a loser – in his uninspiring victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in London.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER Anthony Joshua
The former heavyweight champion’s new trainer Derrick James said after the fact that all he wanted was a victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday at O2 Arena in London. Decision or knockout, it didn’t matter. Mission accomplished. Joshua controlled the fight from the outset with his power jab and plenty of hard, accurate right hands. The smaller Franklin was willing but didn’t have the wherewithal to avoid the incoming shots or deliver his own with any consistency. Thus, no one was surprised when the official scores were announced: 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111, which was music to the ears of those close to Joshua. He was back in the win column after three long years and had taken a significant step in the right direction following crippling back-to-back losses against Oleksander Usyk. The victory could lead directly to a showdown against countryman and titleholder Tyson Fury. Or, if that’s not possible immediately, Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte are viable options on Joshua’s continuing journey of redemption. Bottom line: Joshua is back in business.
BIGGEST LOSER Anthony Joshua
Anthony Joshua got the victory but didn’t make a strong statement. James Chance / Getty Images
Joshua got the job done but it wasn’t his finest hour. And that might not bode well for him. Let’s face it: He has never been the same since Andy Ruiz Jr. hurt him in the third round and stopped him in the seventh in an unforgettable 2019 upset. He rebounded by outpointing Ruiz in the rematch and then knocking out 39-year-old Pulev but the ferocious knockout artist of the pre-Ruiz years was gone, having given way to a capable, but careful boxer who has no interest in taking unnecessary risks lest he be stopped again. The old, confident Joshua would’ve destroyed a second-tier opponent like Franklin. The current version spent as much time holding his frustrated opponent as punching him late in the fight, when Franklin was particularly vulnerable to a knockout. That was a bad look. Joshua wanted to stop Franklin, he wanted to make a statement, he wanted to show everyone that he’s still the great heavyweight who took out Hall of Famer Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. The problem for him? That’s no longer who he is.
BIGGEST MISMATCH? Fury vs. Joshua
Could Joshua beat Tyson Fury? Ringo Chiu, Fayez Nureldine / AFP via Getty Images
One should never count out a fighter as talented as Joshua. And make no mistake: Joshua is a fine boxer, as he demonstrated in his second fight with Usyk. He came within a handful punches of turning the tables on his Ukrainian rival, which would’ve been a major accomplishment. I just don’t see how this version of Joshua beats Fury, however. Fury is bigger, better and mentally much tougher than the skittish Joshua. Joshua might be a bigger puncher but how far is that going to take him? He couldn’t stop Franklin. Can he be expected to do so against a man who survived three fights against Deontay Wilder? It doesn’t seem likely. The fight might look a lot like Fury’s meeting with the 39-year-old Klitschko, who has a similar style to Joshua. He fought behind his strong jab and pounded his opponents with straight right hands. A younger, less experienced Fury neutralized everything Klitschko tried to do and won a clear decision in his break-out fight. Would it be any different against Joshua? Not likely.
RABBIT PUNCHCES
Roy Jones Jr., 54, lost a majority decision in a sanctioned bout against former UFC champion Anthony Pettis on Saturday in Milwaukee even though Pettis had no boxing experience. And Jones (66-10, 47 KOs) said more such fights are to come. Fighters in their mid-50s shouldn’t be allowed to take part in sanctioned bouts, in which both parties are expected to hold nothing back in the most dangerous of sports. Shame on officials in Wisconsin. Why not take part in exhibitions if Jones wants to stay in the game, as he did with Mike Tyson in 2020? Then the participants can put on a show and make money without taking risks inherent in genuine fights. This just doesn’t feel right. … Robeisy Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) climbed all the way back from his disastrous loss in his pro debut, outclassing and easily outpointing former 122-pound beltholder Isaac Dogboe (24-3, 15 KOs) to win a vacant 126-pound title Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Obviously the two-time Olympic champion from Cuba is an excellent boxer. And he’s going to get better if he remains focused. The southpaw relies almost solely on spacing and his left hand. If he would use his jab and throw more combinations, he could be scary good. … Dogboe didn’t handle his post-fight interview well, arguing in so many words that he was robbed and demanding a rematch. Let’s not be too hard on him; his emotions got the better of him. But, c’mon. It wasn’t a close fight. And he’s not getting a rematch. It’s almost always best to say something like, “Hey, it wasn’t my night tonight,” and move on.
Roy Jones Jr., 54, was outpointed by Anthony Pettis, a former UFC fighter with no boxing experience, Saturday in Milwaukee.
Roy Jones Jr., 54, came up short in his comeback fight.
The Hall of Famer, taking part in a sanctioned bout for the first time in more than five years, lost a majority decision to 36-year-old former UFC champion Anthony Pettis in an eight-round cruiserweight fight Saturday in Milwaukee.
The official scores were 78-74 and 77-75 for Pettis, and 76-76.
The fight was competitive throughout and Jones fought with urgency in the final few rounds but he was outworked overall by Pettis, who was making his boxing debut.
“For me, I like to come in and entertain the fans,” Jones said afterward. “My job is to come in and make sure that the fans get what they paid for, and I’m all good with that.
“I think it was a good fight. He did a great job and fought a very smart fight. I think I educated him and taught him a lot in this fight. So I think if I fought him again it would be even better because he knows a lot more now.
“I think it would be a really good rematch.”
Jones was coming off an exhibition with Mike Tyson in 2020. Why take part in sanctioned bouts as opposed to exhibitions when you’re in your mid-50s?
“I don’t do exhibitions, I fight real fights,” Jones said. “I’m not an exhibition guy, I’m a real guy. I want to win, or I want to lose. But I’m going to go out on my shield.
“And I want to be able to do it again as many times as I want to. At 54 years old, that’s a beautiful thing, and he already said he’d do it again because one judge had it even. So that’s what I love.”
Meanwhile, Pettis was impressed with the old man. And he’s thrilled to have embarked on a new journey.
“Man, he’s 54 years old, but you’ve got to give it up for this guy,” Pettis said. “He’s a legend in the sport, a GOAT (Greatest of All Time). Praise God for allowing me to get this opportunity. Give it up for Roy Jones Jr., man.
“I’m going to take it one fight at a time, take it day by day,” continued Pettis. “I’m 1-0 as a pro and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
What about a rematch with Jones?
“I would love to do it again,” Pettis said. “Let’s go. It would be an honor, bro.”
Roy Jones Jr., 54, was outpointed by Anthony Pettis, a former UFC fighter with no boxing experience, Saturday in Milwaukee.
Roy Jones Jr., 54, came up short in his comeback fight.
The Hall of Famer, taking part in a sanctioned bout for the first time in more than five years, lost a majority decision to 36-year-old former UFC champion Anthony Pettis in an eight-round cruiserweight fight Saturday in Milwaukee.
The official scores were 78-74 and 77-75 for Pettis, and 76-76.
The fight was competitive throughout and Jones fought with urgency in the final few rounds but he was outworked overall by Pettis, who was making his boxing debut.
“For me, I like to come in and entertain the fans,” Jones said afterward. “My job is to come in and make sure that the fans get what they paid for, and I’m all good with that.
“I think it was a good fight. He did a great job and fought a very smart fight. I think I educated him and taught him a lot in this fight. So I think if I fought him again it would be even better because he knows a lot more now.
“I think it would be a really good rematch.”
Jones was coming off an exhibition with Mike Tyson in 2020. Why take part in sanctioned bouts as opposed to exhibitions when you’re in your mid-50s?
“I don’t do exhibitions, I fight real fights,” Jones said. “I’m not an exhibition guy, I’m a real guy. I want to win, or I want to lose. But I’m going to go out on my shield.
“And I want to be able to do it again as many times as I want to. At 54 years old, that’s a beautiful thing, and he already said he’d do it again because one judge had it even. So that’s what I love.”
Meanwhile, Pettis was impressed with the old man. And he’s thrilled to have embarked on a new journey.
“Man, he’s 54 years old, but you’ve got to give it up for this guy,” Pettis said. “He’s a legend in the sport, a GOAT (Greatest of All Time). Praise God for allowing me to get this opportunity. Give it up for Roy Jones Jr., man.
“I’m going to take it one fight at a time, take it day by day,” continued Pettis. “I’m 1-0 as a pro and I’m excited for what the future holds.”
What about a rematch with Jones?
“I would love to do it again,” Pettis said. “Let’s go. It would be an honor, bro.”
Check out these photos of the fighters on the scale and the faceoffs from the Gamebred Boxing 4 ceremonial weigh-ins.
Check out these photos of the fighters on the scale and the faceoffs from the Gamebred Boxing 4 ceremonial weigh-ins, including [autotag]Roy Jones Jr.[/autotag], [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag], [autotag]Vitor Belfort[/autotag], [autotag]Ronaldo Souza[/autotag], [autotag]Jose Aldo[/autotag], [autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag], [autotag]Pearl Gonzalez[/autotag], and [autotag]Gina Mazany[/autotag]. (Photos courtesy of Phil Lamber, Gamebred Boxing)
July 5, 2009; London, ENGLAND; The Wimbleton trophy awaits the winner of the mens’ singles final round 2009 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. Roger Federer (SUI) defeated Andy Roddick (USA) 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14. It was his record-breaking 15th major championship. Mandatory Credit: Steve Bardens/Offside Sports via USA TODAY Sports
Jul 10 2016; London, United Kingdom; General view of centre court at the trophy presentation after the Andy Murray (GBR) and Milos Raonic (CAN) men’s final match on day 14 of the 2016 The Championships Wimbledon. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
