American-Russian boxer Roy Jones Jr. (2nd L) listens to the Russian anthem before his bout against British boxer Enzo Maccarinelli in Moscow on December 12, 2015. (Photo by VASILY MAXIMOV / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The scheduled exhibition match with Mike Tyson in September won’t be the last time fight fans will get to see Roy Jones Jr. in the ring.
That’s if the former undisputed light heavyweight champion will have it his way.
The 51-year-old Jones already has another match in mind with less than two months to go before his eight-round bout against fellow boxing legend Mike Tyson on Sept. 12 in California.
“People have been talking about Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anderson Silva in a boxing match for years, even before the McGregor-Mayweather fight happened. We were supposed to happen first,” Jones told MMA Fighting as posted on BoxingScene.com.
“And, unlike that fight, Anderson has professional boxing experience. McGregor didn’t. So, this is much more of a competitive fight, especially with us being older. Now, because he has experience it is much easier for him to survive.”
Brazilian fighter Anderson Silva (R) competes against US fighter Jared Cannonier (L) during their men’s middleweight bout at the Ultimate Fighting Championship 237 event (UFC 237) at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro on May 11, 2019. (Photo by Mauro Pimentel / AFP)
Anderson Silva is widely regarded as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.
The former middleweight champion, who also holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history, has dedicated much of his life to MMA since making his debut in 1997.
But Silva also tried his hand in boxing. He fought professionally twice—losing in 1997 and winning in 2005.
Jones (66-9, 47 KOs), on the other hand, hasn’t been active since beating unheralded American Scott Sigmon in a cruiserweight bout in Florida.
“He doesn’t have to deal with the young tiger Roy Jones. He gets to deal with the older Roy Jones where he may have a chance to deal with because I’m much older than what I once was. But, that still is a big event and it would’ve been a big event if it happened back then. As Mike shows you now, never say never, the opportunity may come now.”