Boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. broke his silence after reports surfaced of a fight with the polarizing Jake Paul.
Jake Paul is back in the gym as he prepares for his boxing return later this year. He’s kept a relatively low profile since defeating heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson in his most recent fight in October.
A few potential boxing opponents have been proposed for Paul’s next fight, including a possible rematch with Tommy Fury. Paul suffered his first career defeat to Fury in 2023 following a six-fight unbeaten streak to begin his career.
The internet nearly broke when reports of a Paul vs. Jones fight swirled online this week. Jones, 55, hasn’t competed since a loss to former UFC champion Anthony Pettis in April 2023.
Amidst all of the rumors and speculation regarding a Paul vs. Jones fight, Jones took to social media to address all of the online noise.
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Roy Jones Jr. clears the air on Jake Paul fight rumors
In a recent Instagram post, Jones addressed his following on the Paul fight rumors.
“This post has cost me many of restless nights due to people wondering,” Jones posted. “I love what Jake has done for our sport. I also love the time and effort that he’s put forth to develop his craft. Being that I was Mikes last opponent before the big exhibition that they put on, I do feel like I’d probably be the most noteworthy opponent at this point.
“HOWEVER………. I have not been contacted about any of these allegations so it is NOT A REALITY at this point in time. For the record- just like in my prime, I’m always JUST A CALL “OUT” away.”
Jones has repeatedly teased a potential showdown with Paul in recent years. But nothing has come to fruition, despite Jones fitting the profile of Paul’s recent stretch of opponents.
Jones is arguably one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time with wins over the likes of James Toney, Antonio Tarver, and Felix Trinidad. During his prime, he was considered one of the most skilled boxers in the sport’s history.
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Jake Paul is back in the gym ahead of anticipated boxing return
Before the loss to Pettis, Jones competed against Tyson in an exhibition boxing match in 2020, with the non-scored bout going the distance. Coincidentally, Paul was on the undercard of Tyson vs. Jones, defeating former NBA star Nate Robinson by knockout.
While the 58-year-old Jones is well past his physical fighting prime, he’s showcased the ability to fight well at an advanced stage. He won four consecutive fights, including the WBF cruiserweight title, before the tightly-contested defeat to Pettis.
Jones’s comments indicate that the reports surrounding a clash with Paul are invalid. But that doesn’t mean that the fight won’t take place at a later date, and in the meantime, speculation runs rampant regarding Paul’s return opponent.