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The UFC may not be on the this weekend’s combat sports docket, but there’s plenty of other top tier fighting action going down. Bellator put on a fight card on Friday night, and the PFL returns to competition Saturday. We’ve got Anthony Joshua boxing on DAZN PPV, as well as Fight Circus, and Karate Combat. But no event offers quite the same level of star-studded roster as the latest offering from Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred boxing promotion.
Stacked top-to bottom with former UFC champions, notable names, and surprising matchups, the event is set to be capped off by the pro boxing debut of none other than ‘Showtime’ Anthony Pettis, taking on former middleweight and light heavyweight boxing god Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones Jr. returns to pro-boxing after five years away
After a string of disappointing results between 2004 & 2011, RJJ has largely dropped out of the contender’s circuit as a top-level professional boxer. He’s found his way back to winning, with a record of 12-1 since a knockout loss to Denis Lebedev that marked his third-straight defeat.
The last time Roy Jones Jr. stepped into the ring, as a pro, came against Scott Sigmon in 2018, at 49-years-of age. Jones won that bout via unanimous decision, picking up the WBU German cruiserweight title along the way. His only other notable piece of competitive boxing in the time since was a carnival-esque exhibition bout against fellow former champion Mike Tyson at a Triller-promoted boxing event in 2020.
Anthony Pettis looks for a break from MMA struggles
For former UFC champion Pettis, wins have been difficult to come by stretching all the way back to his loss of the lightweight strap in 2015, to then-rising challenger Rafael dos Anjos. Anthony Pettis competed 13 more times for the UFC after that loss, but went just 6-7 for his trouble. A move over to the PFL in 2021, following back-to-back wins over Alex Morono & Donald Cerrone, seemed like a promising move.
But, with defeats to Clay Collard and Raush Manfio, and then a pair of losses to Stevie Ray in 2022, Pettis has just a single win over Myles Price to show for his efforts on his new MMA platform. While a move over to boxing might be a fun way for the 36-year-old to jump-start his career, it remains to be seen whether making his debut against a former legend like Roy Jones Jr. will serve the longtime Roufusport talent well.
Jose Aldo and Jacare Souza making bids for boxing as well
Alongside the RJJ vs. Pettis main event, Gamebred Boxing 4 features a co-main clash of a former UFC bout, with onetime featherweight king Jose Aldo taking on 2018 foe Jeremy Stephens. Aldo made his boxing debut earlier this year at an event in Brazil. For Stephens, this marks the first time he’s competed without a pair of 4oz gloves on.
Brazilin faces Brazilian further down the card, where former UFC light heavyweight champion and middleweight title contender Vitor Belfort will return to the ring against Brazilian Jiu Jitsu legend Jacare Souza. After exiting the UFC in 2018, Belfort had seemed poised to compete for Singapore’s ONE Championship. While a contract was signed, no bouts ever materialized. He’s since been linked to numerous boxing bouts, against the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and Hasim Rahman Jr. The only fight he’s actually had make it all the way to the ring in the past half-decade however, was a sad exhibition bout against a thoroughly shot Evander Holyfield at a 2021 Triller event. Belfort one that fight via first round KO.
Gamebred Boxing 4 fight card
Roy Jones Jr vs. Anthony Pettis
Jose Aldo vs. Jeremy Stephens
Vitor Belfort vs. Jacare Souza
Pearl Gonzalez vs. Gina Mazany
Josh Burns vs. Dillon Cleckler
Devin Cushing vs. Damian David Marchiano
Luis Feliciano vs. Clarence Booth
Bi Nguyen vs. Andy Nguyen
Roberto Armas vs. Javier Zamarron
Danielle Cohen vs. Danielle Wynn
Markus Perez vs. Joe Riggs
Cade Howell vs. Christopher Wingate
Mandeep Jangra vs. Ryan Reber
The Gamebred Boxing 4 iPPV card is available for purchase on Fight Pass, and begins broadcast at 7pm Eastern/4pm Pacific.
Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anthony Pettis Highlights
Mandeep Jangra vs. Ryan Reber
Cade Howell vs. Christopher Wingate
Markus Perez vs. Joe Riggs
Dillon Cleckler vs. Josh Burns
Pearl Gonzalez vs. Gina Mazany
Devin Cushing vs. Damian Marciano
Jose Aldo vs. Jeremy Stephens
Vitor Belfort vs. Jacare Souza
Anthony Pettis vs. Roy Jones Jr.
Results
Cade Howell def. Christopher Wingate via UD (40-36, 39-37×2)
Mandeep Jangra def. Ryan Reber via TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 2
Markus Perez def. Joe Riggs via TKO (injury stoppage) at 1:19 of Round 3
Bi Nguyen def. Andy Nguyen via UD (39-37×3)
Dillon Cleckler def. Josh Burns via TKO at 1:20 of Round 1
Gina Mazany def. Pearl Gonzalez via MD (57-57, 59-55, 58-56)
Devin Cushing def. Damian Marciano via TKO at 2:59 of Round 3
Luis Feliciano def. Clarence Booth via UD (78-74, 77-75, 79-73)
Jose Aldo draws Jeremy Stephens via MD (58-56, 57-57×2)
Vitor Belfort def. Jacare Souza via UD (58-54×2, 57-55)
Anthony Pettis def. Roy Jones Jr. via MD (77-75, 78-74, 76-76)
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