Pensacola, Florida: As Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-4-2, 10 KOs) prepares to attempt to reclaim the NABF Light Heavyweight Title from Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk (11-0, 9 KOs) live on the Kovalev-Ward “Pound For Pound” HBO Pay-Per-View undercard from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada he will have former four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr. in his corner for the first time. Below Jones assesses the match-up and his observations of the young Malawi native:

Question: Does Chilemba’s performance against Kovalev give him more confidence going into this fight?

Roy Jones Jr: “Oh yes, most definitely. Kovalev had been crushing everybody and he didn’t get crushed so it has to give him confidence.”

Q: Chilemba has almost three times as many fights as Gvozdyk. How big of an advantage is this?

RJ: “It’s not a big advantage because Gvozdyk probably has three times more fights than Chilemba does in amateurs. These Eastern European guys have so many more amateur fights than we do. They fight from when they’re small and they go through schools and everything. These guys are very, very high-tech when it comes to being skilled in the ring in the sport of boxing so he probably has a little bit more experience if you add up the fights over the years.”

Q: What must Chilemba do in this fight in order to win?

RJ: “He’s got to disrupt Gvozdyk. He can’t let Gvozdyk fight at his own pace. He can’t let Gvozdyk constantly push him backwards so he’s gotta make Gvozdyk change, make Gvozdyk do things he does not like to do.”

Q: What must Chilemba prevent Gvozdyk from doing or take away from him in order to win?

RJ: “Chilemba must prevent Gvozdyk’s control of the power of the jab and setting up the big right hand.”

Q: Do you think, now that you are working with Chilemba, if he defeats Gvozdyk he should be entitled to a rematch with Sergey?

RJ: “Of course, of course he should. Chilemba deserves a rematch with Sergey.”

Q: What are Chilemba’s biggest strengths and weaknesses. How are you working to correct them?

RJ: “His feet are his biggest strength. His feet are very good, he can be very elusive. And his biggest tool is his straight right hand. His weakness is that he had a lack of punching power because he wasn’t turning his shoulder, turning his body with his punches. We are fixing that, working on it right now.”

Q: As a former light heavyweight world champion, what are your observations on the Kovalev-Ward fight?

RJ: “Very good fight. Best fight of boxing today. I look forward to seeing it. To me it’s one of the best fights we had in boxing in years as far as guys being in their prime, being the two best in the division. That is just a great fight. A great fight for boxing.”

Q: How would you break down this match-up?

RJ: “No I don’t have a prediction. Andre Ward hasn’t been beaten in a long time, and if there was a guy that could beat him, there is the guy, so…”

Q: Which fighter, Kovalev or Ward, would have given you the best fight when you were 175-pound world champion?

RJ: “Both of them would be really good fights, very hard fights to fight. Very different fights to fight. My hand speed maybe would be better against both of them but they’d be tough guys to fight. Kovalev because of the power and Ward because of his mentality, he’s a very smart guy in the ring. Very hard fights, but speed factor is probably what I would use to get both of them beat.”

Kovalev vs. Ward “Pound For Pound”, a 12-round mega-fight for the WBO/IBF/WBA light heavyweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, is presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions and is sponsored by the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Corona Extra, Zappos, JetLux and Monster Products. The championship event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Tickets are available on axs.com and the T-Mobile Arena box office.

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Pensacola, Florida (October 20, 2016): As former light heavyweight title contender Isaac “Golden Boy” Chilemba (24-4-2, 10 KOs) gears up to face Ukrainian prospect Oleksandr Gvozdyk (11-0, 9 KOs) on the Kovalev-Ward HBO Pay-Per-View undercard, he will be training with former four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr.

Chilemba, 29, originally from Malawi, but now residing in South Africa, is coming off the toughest fight of his career. On July 11, this road-warrior travelled to WBO, WBA and IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev’s home country of Russia to face the champion in front of a sold-out crowd in his own backyard. Despite the unanimous decision loss, Chilemba’s performance against Kovalev raised a lot of eyebrows in the boxing community. Chilemba managed to go the distance against the “Krusher” a distinction held only by one other fighter, future Hall of Famer Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins.

For a number of years, Chilemba had worked with trainer James “Buddy” McGirt but when McGirt was unable to make the trip to South Africa to train Chilemba for Kovalev, he needed to find another trainer. For his stunning performance against Kovalev, Chilemba trained with his manager, Jodi Solomon. The Kovalev fight gained the attention of former four-division world champion and Chilemba’s childhood hero, Roy Jones Jr., who contacted cut man Russ Anber and suggested the two work together going forward. Roy invited Chilemba and Solomon to his gym in Pensacola, Florida to discuss the opportunity of training together.

When asked about that initial meeting Solomon replied, “It was a very big deal for Chilemba because Jones was his childhood hero. The trip to Florida was a huge eye-opener. It was awesome to be in Jones’ gym and for Chilemba to see why he does the things he does and to understand his thought process. Chilemba loved every minute of it. Jones is very passionate about boxing. They connected and got along very well.”

Chilemba grew up watching Jones fight on television in Malawi and has tried to mirror Jones’ style throughout his own career. Chilemba is excited to work with his hero one-on-one now. He said, “For years I have been watching him and trying to learn some of his moves to make them to my own. Now I am very happy that I get to work with him. Jones is my favorite fighter of all time. Working with him is like a dream come true. When I was a kid growing up in Malawi, I used to watch him and try to fight like him. Now working with him is amazing. It is even better than what I expected. Roy Jones Jr. is a master and now I get to work with him and understand why he does what he does. I have always watched him fight and tried to copy him from watching him on the screen. Now I get to work with him in person. It is amazing!”

Roy Jones Jr. added, “It wasn’t just that fight against Kovalev that made me want to work with him. I have been watching Chilemba for some time. After that fight I said I would love to work with him. I saw Chilemba the first time he came to the United States and I realized he was emulating my exact style but he has never had a person who could fully explain it to him. Now he is shocked and amazed that he is able to integrate the nuances of my style. His opponent, Gvozdyk is a very good fighter. It is never easy to beat a fighter like him because he is a very smart guy. He was such a great amateur fighter. We do have our hands full but I am looking forward to seeing how Isaac takes the things that I teach him and uses them to break him down.”

Kovalev vs. Ward “Pound For Pound”, a 12-round mega-fight for the WBO/IBF/WBA Light Heavyweight World Titles, takes place Saturday, Nov. 19, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

“Pound for Pound” is presented by Main Events, Roc Nation Sports, Krusher Promotions and Andre Ward Promotions and is sponsored by MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Rosneft and Corona Extra. Tickets are on sale now at AXS.com and the T-Mobile Arena Box Office.

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According to Dan Rafael of espn.com. Roy Jones Jr. may or may not fight again following his torn bicep injury.

“If I stop now, I’m good with that because I got a win in front of my fans in that last fight,” Jones said Friday.

“My biceps, it just popped in the fifth round,” Jones said. “My right hand was dead after that even though I threw it a few times. But it’s already feeling a lot better. I’m not sure if this is the end or not. I may fight again if I feel like it, but I don’t know if I will feel like it.”

“But if I stop now I’m good with it,” Jones said. “I still might go on, but if I just stop, I’m good with it.

“It ain’t about the money. I want to fight because I love to fight. I like testing myself, but I’m not trying to fool myself. I’m not 32 anymore. I’m 47 and know I can’t fight forever, but I’m not trying to prove nothing to anyone. But if I have fought for the last time, I can live with that. It was big for me to go home to Pensacola and get a win in front of all those fans who have supported me for so many years.”

By Norm Frauenheim-

Roy Jones Jr.’s nightmare continues. He and boxing are subjected to it every four years for the last 28 years. It never changes. Head gear on, head gear off, there’s just no disguise for a mess that began before the Berlin Wall fell.

Jones ranks as the greatest pro of his generation, yet he is remembered more for the 1988 controversy that has defined Olympic boxing ever since the Seoul Games.

The fix that robbed Jones of the gold medal is the reference point for every controversy that happens, ad nauseam and always with no end in sight. It’s beginning to look as if there’s no way back to the day when a Sugar Ray Leonard-led US team in 1976 was an Olympic centerpiece.

Boxing has pushed itself so far to the Olympic fringe that I’m not sure anybody cares anymore. Has anybody heard NBC utter a single mention of anything that has transpired at the Rio de Janeiro boxing venue? Didn’t think so.

In the U.S., Spanish-speaking networks carry the bouts. But the only NBC story about anything resembling a fight involves “whatever’’ happened at a Rio gas station’s bathroom involving security guards and U.S. swimmers, including Ryan Lochte. Gary Hall Jr., a three-time Olympian and 10-time swimming medalist from Phoenix, once said that it’s hard to develop a personality when you spend so much time with your head underwater. He could have been talking about Lochte, the 32-year-old Peter Pan of world-class waters.

I mention Lochte, because swimming’s tsunami of unwanted attention happens as history repeats itself in Olympic boxing. There are the usual judging controversies – this time scored under the pro-style, 10-pound must system. Yet its been mostly ignored by mainstream media, despite a photo of an obscene gesture – an upraised middle finger on each hand– from Irish bantamweight Michael Conlan after losing a quarterfinal decision —29-28 on all three cards – to Russian Vladimir Nikitin.

In perhaps a telling coincidence, Nikitin withdrew from a Thursday bout with emerging American Shakur Stevenson, reportedly because of injuries sustained against Conlan. Predictably, amateur boxing’s ruling acronym, AIBA, announced the familiar shuffles, suspending anonymous judges, unknown referees and faceless bureaucrats.

AIBA said Thursday that executive director Karim Bouzidi of Algeria has been “re-assigned.’’ But to do what from where? It all reminds me of what happened in the aftermath of American Rocky Juarez’ loss to Bekzat Sattarkhanov of Kazakhstan at the 2000 Sydney Games in the featherweight gold-medal match.

Amateur boxing announced that referee Stanislav Kirsanov would be suspended for four years for allowing Sattarkhanov to hold and clinch in the second and third rounds. That prevented Juarez from scoring on the inside, where he was always at his best.

But it looks as if that suspension didn’t last long, if at all. Ringside colleague Bill Dwyre, the former Los Angeles Times sports editor, called Kirsanov while he was still supposed to be under suspension. No, Kirsanov told Dwyre, he was scheduled to work an upcoming international bout and that he had been working for a while.

From Jones to Juarez, from Seoul to Sydney to Rio, nothing really changes. Hate to say it, but Conlan’s gesture says it best.

Legendary champion Roy Jones Jr. will take on Rodney Moore on August 13th in Pensacola, Florida according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“I’m always excited to be fighting in front of my hometown fans who have shown me so much support during my career, and I am looking forward to giving them an action-packed fight,” said Jones, who last fought in Pensacola in March 2015, when he knocked out Paul Vasquez in the first round.

Whether Jones plans to keep fighting beyond the fight with Moore is unclear, but McGee Wright, Jones’ manager, said Jones wanted to fight at home again before he retires.

“He wants to end his career in Pensacola at some point,” Wright said. “I’m not saying this is his last fight, but he started here and he wants to end it here.”

By Norm Frauenheim

TUCSON – There was no main event. There was only a reunion.

Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney stole the show — their own show — Friday night, as co-promoters of a card at Casino Del Sol that lost its main event when junior featherweight Hanzel Martinez was hurt Wednesday night in an auto accident.

Jones and Toney, once sworn enemies in a 1994 super- middleweight out called Uncivil War, re-emerged as business partners in what they say is just the beginning.

“We’re going to take over the world, man,’’ said Toney, who made his old rival laugh at his dance steps, jokes and gestures as they stood in the ring, almost arm-in-arm, before each bout televised by the CBS Sports Network. “We’re just starting.’’

More like starting over.

Twenty years ago, the guess was that the two would only meet again in a bitter rematch or an old-fashioned duel. There could only be sequel of the hostility that lingered after Jones’ unanimous decision over Toney in a clash at Las Vegas MGM Grand.

“Nah, nah, nah’’ Toney said. “You gotta get past all of that. Time to grow up.’’

John “Pops” Arthur — Toney’s CEO, advisor, mentor and confidante — said Toney and Jones ran into each other last year at a boxing meet-and-greet.

“James had always wanted a rematch, yeah,’’ Arthur said. “I told him to move on and put his anger aside. I told him to approach Roy like a businessman. When people saw them together, I think they probably thought they’d only agree to rematch.’’

Given their pasts, it would have been a reach to think anything else. Both fighters have continued to fight far beyond their primes, despite calls from fans and media for them to retire.

This time, Arthur said, they shook hands. But not for a remake of some old hostility. This time, it’s all about business, Arthur said.

Arthur foresees a long-term partnership, which would be a lot better for their financials and their brain cells than a rematch ever could be.

“We’ll do a lot more of these, no doubt,’’ Toney said.

With the Martinez-Prosper Ankrah bout off the card because of a concussion and back injury suffered by Martinez during an accident in Tijuana, the show went on with Emmanuel Robles in an eight-rounder against Pipino Cuevas in a junior welterweight bout.

In his first bout since signing with Roy Jones Jr. in early March, Robles (15-0, 4 KOs) made it look easy against an out of-shape Cuevas

Robles floored Cuevas (17-16-1, 15 KOs), winless over his last seven bouts, with a crushing left in the third round. Cuevas got up, but blood poured from his nose. He looked beaten. in the fourth, he would be.

At 25 second of the round, referee Tony Zaino stopped it when Robles landed a series of blows against a defenseless Cuevas.

On The Undercard

Keenan Carbajal (11-2, 6 KOs) wore red-and-white trunks cut in the style of his Hall of Fame relative, junior-flyweight legend Michael Carbajal. Flashed a little bit of his power, too.

Keenan Carbajal, bigger and more confident than ever, delivered a lethal succession of combinations, overwhelming an overmatched Lorenzo Trejo in the second round.

The featherweight bout was scheduled for eight rounds. Carbajal, of Phoenix, could have put Trejo (35-31, 22 KOs), of Mexico, onto the canvas that many times or more, if not for referee Rocky Burke, who ended it at 2:21 of the second and Trejo on the canvas for the third time in the round.

An introduction of Randy Moreno’s power was warning enough for Christopher Turton. Moreno (3-0, 2 KOs), of Las Vegas, rocked him, sending Turton stumbling across the canvas midway through the first round of a lightweight bout scheduled for four. A dazed Turton (2-3, 1 KO), of Colony, Tex., took a seat after the first and quit before the second ever began.

Tucson cruiserweight Jesus Santamario’s debut was a knockout, but not exactly the kind of knockout a young fighter envisions for his first pro bout. Edgar Ramirez (3-0, 1 KO), of Mexico City, crushed him with power he had never encountered, bouncing him off the ropes and onto the canvas for a quick knockdown, then finishing him with short right to the back of the head at 1:13 of the first.

Before the CBS telecast, Phoenix super-flyweight Elihu Soto (5-0, 3 KOs) employed precise and painful body blows to score a four-round unanimous decision over Yezber Romero (2-2, 1 KO) of Eugene, Ore.

LAS VEGAS (May 13, 2016) – Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions and Neon Star Media have added extra punch for its next two shows, securing Idea Design Studio as the main sponsor for the next two “Knockout Night at the D” events, May 21 and June 10, at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLVEC) outdoor venue.

The “Knockout Night at the D” series, presented by the D Las Vegasand DLVEC, is promoted by Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions. The May 21st event is promoted in association with Main Events and Shamo Boxing Promotions, June 10th in association with James Toney Promotions.

Idea Design Studio, based in Miami, is a 100-percent confidential invention help firm that assists inventors in designs, development, protection and marketing tools to bring their new invention to market for sale or licensing. For more than seven years, inventors have brought their original inventions, ideas, or improvements to existing products to Idea Design Studio’s creative staff to help inventors realize their invention’s true potential.

“Bringing Idea Design Studio onboard as a partner is just another example of how RJJ is going outside the norm of boxing,” said Keith Veltre, CEO / Co-Founder of Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions. “RJJ is reaching new heights, expanding our horizons and becoming the new generation of boxing. When great minds come together in any industry, the ideas are endless.”

“My business partner, Jeff Weiss, and I are thrilled to partner with Roy Jones Jr. Boxing,” added Marvin Powell III, co-owner of Idea Design Studio. “Whether its up-and-coming boxers or the inventors that we work with, we believe that this joint venture represents two companies committed to helping others achieve the American Dream.”

INFORMATION:

Websites:www.royjonesjrboxing.com, www.ideadesignstudio.com/

Twitter: @RoyJonesJRFA, @IdeaDzignStudio

Instagram: @RoyJonesJRFA, @idea_design_studio_group

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Idea-Design-Studio-11347041869

LAS VEGAS (March 28, 2016) – the D Las Vegasand Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLVEC), along with Neon Star Media, announced today that Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions is the licensed promoter of record for the 2016 “Knockout Night at the D” boxing series to be held at the DLVEC.

The Apr. 16th “Knockout Night at the D” event will air Saturday night, April 16 (8 p.m. PT / 11 p.m. ET), live on CBS Sports Network from the DLVEC outdoor venue in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas.

RJJ promises fans in attendance and those watching live on CBS Sports Network will feel the heat of the 10-round main event as “The Dragon,” Steve Claggett, battles “The Heat,” Chris Van Heerden, in a fan-friendly welterweight showdown.

“We are truly passionate about bringing outdoor boxing back to Las Vegas and are excited to work with Roy Jones Jr. to showcase local fighters and give them an amazing platform at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center,” said Derek Stevens, Owner and CEO of the D Las Vegas and DLVEC. “We feel this fight series will become a major event in the city’s boxing scene, as it will bring together world-class athletes, local businesses and fans from near and far.”

“Anytime I have the opportunity to showcase my fighters in Las Vegas and put on a show is a win-win for me and Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions,” commented Roy Jones Jr., Co-Founder of RJJ. “Las Vegas has helped make my career what it is today; it feels like home to me. ‘Knockout Night at the D’ is going to be a spectacular night for boxing and the fans. Downtown Las Vegas Event Center is an outstanding venue for boxing fans… there isn’t a bad seat in the house!”

“I’m honored to work with such a reputable venue such as the Downtown Las Vegas Center,” remarked Keith Veltre, CEO / Co-Founder of Roy Jones Jr. Promotions. “This venue is exactly what the boxing community needs to spark the excitement of boxing that ‘Knockout Night at the D’ will deliver. The team has been very accommodating to RJJ and it is a pleasure to work with a class act. We are happy to call the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center home to RJJ.”

Claggett (23-3-1, 16 KOs), 26, is the reigning Canadian Professional Boxing Council and Canadian welterweight champion. As an amateur in Calgary, he captured four Alberta Championships and three Golden Gloves titles, all prior to his 18th birthday.

South African-native Van Heerden (23-1-1, 12 KOs), fighting out of Santa Monica (CA), is a former International Boxing Organization (IBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion. (Van Heerden is pictured to the left.)

The 8-round co-feature matches undefeated Lancaster, California Neeco “Rooster” Macias (11-0, 4 KOs) against Limberth Ponce, Jr. (10-2, 8 KOs), of Rock Island, Illinois. Unbeaten Baltimore welterweight prospect Malik Hawkins (6-0, 5 KOs) is scheduled to fight an opponent to be determined in a 4-round bout.

The remainder of the undercard features promising Las Vegas-based prospects in four-round bouts: welterweight Jeremy “J Flash” Nichols (2-0, 2 KOs), junior featherweight Sal Perez (2-0) and bantamweight Sergio Lopez (2-3, 1 KO). Nichols (pictured to the left) gained invaluable experience as a sparring partner for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. for his mega-fight versus Manny Pacquiao.

All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Tickets, priced at $149.99 VIP ringside, $119.00 ringside, $74.99 seated and $29.99 rear seated, are on sale at www.Ticketmaster.com or www.DLVEC.com. Taxes and fees apply to all sold tickets.

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. PT with the opening bout scheduled at 6:30 p.m. PT.

The “Knockout Night at the D” series was developed in partnership with DLVEC and Neon Star Media.

CBS Sports Network is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

TITLE Boxing is the official apparel and gloves partner for the “Knockout Night at the D” series.

INFORMATION:

Website: www.dlvec.com, www.thed.com, www.royjonesjrboxing.com

Twitter: @thedlasvegas, @dlvec, @DerekJStevens, @BoxingatheDLV, RoyJonesJRFA

Instagram: @dlvec, @thedlasvegas

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/dlvec, www.Facebook.com/thedlasvegas

Follow these fighters on Twitter: @SDragonClaggett, @TheHeat001 (Van Heerden), @Limbo_1991 (Ponce)

By Norm Frauenheim-

PHOENIX – About his status as an all-time great, there are no doubts. About his future, there are plenty.

Roy Jones Jr., the world’s best fighter for about a decade, did the expected Sunday in a pay-per-view on line event that had to leave its audience wondering why-oh-why it spent $11.99 for a look at the future Hall of Famer.

He beat somebody named Vyron Phillips, making the mixed-martial arts pro look like the random fan that the Arizona State Boxing and MMA Commission said Jones’ foe could not be.

Jones stopped Phillips with a sweeping right hand, one of the few punches he threw at 2:30 of the second round.

In the aftermath of the predictable finish to a URShow.tv production, Jones said thanks to Phillips, who would have collected $100,000 bonus if he had beaten the legend in a bout scheduled for six rounds. He thanked a sparse crowd at Celebrity Theater. He said a lot. But he didn’t say goodbye.

“I haven’t got anything planned,’’ Jones said before the URShow.tv card, which included wrestling, MMA, and rap, all in an elevated ring surrounded by three ropes instead of the usual four.

Nothing, Jones said, is planned, including retirement, despite fans and media calling for him to quit since he suffered a brutal knockout on Dec. 12 in Russia.

Even Phillips would be happy to see him retire.

“I’d like to see him go away from this,’’ said the 33-year-old Phillips, who idolized Jones when he was a kid. “Maybe, coach. I don’t want to see him get hurt.’’

But Jones, 47, wasn’t ready to announce his retirement Sunday.

“We’ll see what happens,’’ said Jones, who appeared to carry Phillips through most of the first until he rocked the former amateur boxer with combination in the round’s closing.

Jones weighed 201.7 pounds and Phillips was at 194.6 for the event with specifics such as glove size still uncertain a couple of hours before opening bell.

Jones told the Arizona commission that he wanted to use 14-ounce gloves, according to Matthew Valenzuela, executive director of the state’s regulatory agency.

However, Phillips balked, saying he wanted to fight with 10-ounce gloves, the version used by boxing pros in heavier weight classes. The 14-ounce pair primarily a training glove. As a 185-pound MMA fighter, Phillips wears a four-ounce pair.

“Just give me a chance to show what I can really do,’’ Phillips said after Saturday’s weigh-in. “That’s all I’m asking.’’

When told that Phillips wanted the smaller gloves, Jones said okay, according to Valenzuela.

“Roy said that’s what he’s been wearing all along as a professional,’’ Valenzuela said. “He said if he wants the 10-ounce, that’s fine.’’

Valenzuela said he and Jones wanted to use the bigger gloves to ensure safety. As it turned out, Phillips might have regretted the smaller gloves. But though he never had an ounce of a chance anyway.

In marketing the event, the Canadian-based URShow.tv advertised that Jones would fight a fan, often described as “random” in subsequent headlines. Phillips was selected to fight Jones about 12 days ago by a vote on Facebook. Arizona licensed him Friday. He’s not exactly a random fan. But he wasn’t a seasoned pro either. From The Ring to MMA, you won’t find his name in any top 10.

Phillips, a former basketball player at Algoma University in Canadian Ontario, was 6-1 as an amateur boxer with his last fight in 2014. He said power was his strength, both in MMA and as a boxer.

“I train with my hands,’’ said Phillips, who thought smaller gloves would augment his power. “Striking is my best weapon.’’

The power, Phillips said, would surprise Jones.

On a night with no surprises, it didn’t.

Greg Cohen of Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is happy to announce he will be teaming up with Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions (RJJ) to continue his successful “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” series of boxing shows.

GCP and RJJ will be co-promoting a nationally televised, world-class event at least once a month for the next 12 months, beginning with their debut on February 19, 2016, at the WinnaVegas Casino & Resort in Sloane, Iowa.

Specific match-ups will be announced soon.

CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour home of CBS Sports, is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 221 and DISH Network Channel 158. For more information, including a full programming schedule and how to get CBS Sports Network, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

“I could not be happier about teaming up with such a first-rate promotional outfit as Roy Jones Jr Boxing and their team to present 12-15 outstanding boxing shows in the next 12 months,” said Greg Cohen. “We’ve had great success with last year’s CBS Sports Network shows, but the addition of such a world-renowned name as Roy Jones adds a strong element of greatness to each presentation. And the addition of the RJJ stable of fighters makes the possibility for several exciting match-ups. I am proud to be affiliated with CBS Sports Network and especially my close business associates at RJJ.”

“I am extremely honored to work with such a reputable network such as CBS and distinguished partner, Greg Cohen,” stated Keith Veltre, CEO of Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions. “CBS will no doubt bring more recognition to both our companies, worldwide. I am excited about this new avenue to showcase the RJJ roster to the boxing world. My thanks to Greg Cohen and the team at CBS Sports and I look forward to being part of this exciting series of shows, as a promoter and as a lifelong fan of boxing.”

GCP began the “Championship Boxing on CBS Sports Network” series last year in April and has already featured world-class fighters such as current interim WBA World Lightweight Champion Ismael Barroso, former world title challengers Lateef “Power” Kayode, “Hurricane” Dennis Hogan, and lightweight contender Tony “Lightning” Luis.
About Greg Cohen Promotions
One of boxing’s premier promotional outfits, Greg Cohen Promotions (GCP) is a well-respected name for staging world-class professional boxing events and promoting elite professional fighters throughout the world.

Founder and CEO Greg Cohen has been involved with professional boxing in various capacities since the late 1980s, honing his craft and establishing himself as a shrewd international boxing businessman.

Distinguished by his ability to spot and develop raw talent, Cohen first made promotional headlines for his expert guidance of, among many others, former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout, who Cohen helped guide from unknown New Mexico prospect to elite pay-per-view level superstar.

In addition to Trout, Greg Cohen Promotions has worked with established names such as former unified and two-time heavyweight champion Hasim “The Rock” Rahman and all-time-great multiple-weight class world champion James “Lights Out” Toney.

Cohen currently promotes multiple world champion and boxing superstar Zab Judah and former world champion Kendall Holt, as well as current world-rated contenders including top undefeated cruiserweight Lateef Kayode, long-time elite middleweight “Mean” Joe Greene, lightweight KO artist Ismael Barroso, top super featherweight Arash Usmanee, Canadian lightweight and TV action hero Tony Luis; WBA and five-time Irish National Amateur Champion, Dennis Hogan; and Australian lightweight prospect Josh King.

Greg Cohen Promotions has hosted world-class boxing events in the finest venues throughout the United States and the world and has also proudly provided talent and/or content for several television networks including CBS Sports Network, HBO, Showtime, ESPN, NBC Sports Network, CBS Sports Network, MSG and FOX Sports Net.

For more information, visit gcpboxing.com. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GCPBoxing. Twitter: @GCPBoxing.

Enzo Maccarinelli returned to his dynamite punching best with a fourth round stoppage of Roy Jones Jnr at the VTB Arena in Moscow last night and hailed the former American great.

Welshman Maccarinelli, a former WBO world Cruiserweight Champion, landed a devastating right hand to finish off the former five-time world champion leaving him crumpled on the canvas with the referee waving the fight off.

Maccarinelli respectfully held off celebrating in the ring whilst Jones recovered his senses and got to his feet, but the Swansea puncher was thrilled with his victory and says he still wants to become a two-time world champion next year.

“First of all I’d like to say it was an honour to share the ring with Roy who in my eyes is still a ring legend and I hope that he recovers fully from this,” Said Maccarinelli.

“Regarding my win, I’m over the moon with the performance and it showed that I’ve got the power to hurt anybody. This fight was at cruiserweight where I’ve held a world and I’ve also dropped down to light-heavyweight where I fought Juergen Braehmer for a world title, I’m comfortable at either and wherever the best opportunities are I’ll take them,”

“I said before the fight that I fight best when the pressure is on and coming out to Russia where Roy has become a favourite certainly put the pressure on me to perform and I did that,”

“I knew that the opening rounds might be a bit cagey, but I knew that once I sized him up and got my range that it was only a matter of time before I would take him out. My jab was good and I clipped Roy with a right hand early on which he brushed off but I knew that it hurt him. Then in the fourth I started to connect with uppercuts and he was starting to go so I knew I’d got him and then I landed the hard right to finish him off.”

“That ends the year nicely and now I want to keep busy in 2016 and get another world title shot to become a two-time world champion.”

Dynamite-fisted Enzo Maccarinelli is back in Russia this time to face legend Roy Jones Jnr as he aims to replicate his stunning first round knockout of Alexander Kotlobay five years ago in the country.

The Welsh power-puncher faces Jones, a five-time world champion and 1990s Fighter of the Decade, in a ten-round cruiserweight contest at the VTB Arena, Moscow, this Saturday, exclusively live in the UK on BoxNation.

Big Mac shocked the mighty nation on his last visit in April 2010 in St. Petersburg when he smashed Kotlobay inside a round to win the European cruiserweight title and he says he’s ready to cause another seismic upset against Russia’s newly adopted son.

“I’m fit, strong and ready to go on Saturday,” Said Maccarinelli, the former WBO World Cruiserweight Champion.

“I absolutely love fighting away from home, it gives me that sharper edge to my performance when I’m outside my comfort zone and I’m up against it, that’s when the real Enzo Maccarinelli comes out,”

“Roy Jones has been adopted by the people in Russia so he’s their man, he’s their hero, so I know that I’m coming into this fight as the enemy. At the end of the day I’m not here to make any friends I’m here to smash up Jones and get the win,”

“I’ve done it before over here, I destroyed Kotlobay inside a round, the Russian’s really underestimated me that night, they may be a bit wiser this time around, but I’m ready to cause another shock out here,”

“Physically I’m ready and mentally I’m strong and nothing is going to get in the way of the job that I’ve got to do. As soon as that bell goes, all the legendary stuff, his ring achievements, everything gets put aside and I’m going straight for him.”

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise exclusively live Jones v Maccarinelli from 4pm on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 415. Subscribe at www.boxnation.com Or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.

Welsh star Enzo Maccarinelli will challenge American legend Roy Jones Jnr. for the Vacant WBA Super World Cruiserweight Championship on Saturday 12 December at the VTB Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia, televised exclusively live in the UK on BoxNation.

Maccarinelli aims to become a three-time world champion at 200lbs by defeating Jones, a former five time and three weight-division world champion, who became a Russian citizen on Tuesday after being presented with a passport by President Vladimir Putin.

The sledge-hammer hitting Swansea ace has registered 31 wins by knockout from 40 wins in 47 fights and has previously won British and European titles at cruiserweight and the Commonwealth title at light-heavyweight.

‘Big Mac’ has been campaigning at light-heavyweight for the last three years and challenged for the WBO World title last year against Juergen Braehmer, but the fight was stopped in the fifth round after Maccarinelli couldn’t see out of his right eye after a clash of heads in the opening round.

Although Maccarinelli respects Jones for his incredible ring achievements and acknowledges he was the greatest fighter of the 1990s, he says he will knockout Jones to realise his dream of becoming world champion for a third time.

“Jones was a great great fighter, certainly the best of his era and a fighter that I admired, but that has to be put to one side as I have my job to do and that’s to knock him out and win the world title,” Said Maccarinelli.

“It’s incredible how the Russia people have taken Jones, he’s like a superstar here, with the media following his every move, it takes the pressure off me because I’m seen as just an opponent for him, but I’m going to pull of a huge shock over here on December 12 and bring the world title back to Wales,”

“I’ve been campaigning at light-heavyweight for the last few years and I was recently nominated to fight for the EU title which I was all set to do, but my promoter Frank Warren came in with this fantastic opportunity and how could I turn down the chance to fight a legend and secure my own legacy and win a third world title,”

“I think that Jones will be lifted to another level fighting in front of his new ‘home’ fans and as my fans know I fight with my heart on my sleeve and give every fight one hundred percent so I think this is going to be really special fight.”

Promoter Frank Warren added, “It would be great to see Enzo back with a world title around his waist, he’s been loyal and patient for another shot at a world title after his disappointment against Braehmer last year and I’m delighted that I could deliver him the fight against Jones Jnr. He’s got to go to Russia to do it, but I have faith in Enzo and he’s not a fighter that you can write off, he’s got the punch power to turn the tables at any moment.”

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise the show live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 415. Subscribe at www.boxnation.com Or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Roy Jones Jr. will not be taking on Danny Santiago in Sint Marteen as the card is postponed due to weather concerns with Hurricane Danny.

“They were worried about the hurricane, so the fight was postponed and they said it would be rescheduled at a later date,” Santiago’s manager HeidiJasper told ESPN.com on Wednesday. “The promoter, Archie Keaton Entertainment, and I were supposed to get together to figure out when to reschedule the fight, but now it looks like Hurricane Erika might hit the island so we haven’t been able to meet yet.

“But I have spoken to [Jones manager] McGee Wright, and he said Roy is as eager to fight Danny as much as Danny is to fight Roy, but we can’t control the weather.”

“This is a big deal for Danny,” Jasper said. “He feels like it’s the second postponement of the fight. So Danny is disappointed, but what can you do.”

YALTA, CRIMEA, RUSSIA (April 22, 2015) – Roy Jones, Jr. responded today to the recent reports that he has been blacklisted and included into the “Peacemaker” database as a violator of the state border.

“I came to Russia with peace in mind as I have been doing regularly for the past 4 years. I didn’t come here to offend nobody. I’ve boxed here, I’ve performed my music here, and my company, Square Ring Promotions, promotes or co-promotes fights and fighters here, including current IBO Champion Eduard Troyanovski. And over this time, I have seen how these people love Roy Jones and I love it when people love me,” said Jones.

“Our friend, Vlad Hrunov, who we do a lot of boxing business with, said he had a boxing event this weekend and asked if I would come and perform some of my music at his show. I have a new album that just came out on iTunes so it made sense to me because Russia is a huge market for my music. He also said that there might be the chance to meet President Putin which was a huge honor for me.

“I asked President Putin for a Russian Passport so that it would be easier for me to travel back and forth and also it would help me and my company businesswise. But this is nothing new. I have been talking about getting a Russia Passport now for a couple of years.

“I know the Klitschko brothers have been itching to fight me, and it could be that this is there way of calling me out. So hey, if Vitali or Wlad want to settle this over a friendly sparring session for 12 rounds for the world heavyweight title anywhere in the world outside of Ukraine, including Crimea, they know how to reach me. Otherwise, this nonsense of Ukraine blacklisting me is a transparent attempt to politicize a legitimate business endeavor that we are pursuing with peace in our heart to help restore and build bridges between the East and the West.

Knockout, the highly regarded television reality series starring Roy Jones Jr, Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather Sr, and John Scully, has already surpassed much of the competition in combat sports. Season 2 has played extremely well and has become a staple in the boxing community. With its star power, it has also been able to grab the attention of Hollywood super agent Andrew Ruf, who has put in motion an international deal that will put the series in several countries. There will also be formation of format deals in international countries.

So how can Knockout compete with the spending power of HBO, Showtime and PBC? The simple answer is they can’t, so how will they compete and surpass them? The answer is the fan base. Knockout has rated extremely well with limited promotions and limited homes. The wheels are in motion for full market penetration on cable and with international and format deals coming, Knockout will be the only international weekly aired combat sport along with the UFC and WWE shows. Next year it will likely be the biggest reality show based on this season’s upcoming finale and plans for season 3.

This show is produced and marketed for pennies on the dollar compared to boxing’s elite yet it competes weekly and surpasses the competition in fan appeal. More homes and a worldwide franchise transcends to more ratings, and in turn into more ad revenue and a bigger budget.

The show from a format perspective is already the best thing in boxing. If things go as planned, the one million plus promoters and billion dollar networks have a problem. It took only 12 episodes and 2 live events to have boxing’s best become part of team Knockout. People, this is called proof of concept that adds up to a problem for the competition.

Watch it on NUVOtv or Hulu on Wednesday 10 p.m. This is a must see.

LOS ANGELES (July 22) – Former world title contender Yoandris “El Nino” Salinas (21-1-2, 14 KOs) of Miami is set to face undefeated standout Manuel “Tino” Avila (17-0, 7 KOs) of Fairfield, Calif. for the vacant interim NABF Super Bantamweight Title as the new co-main event for Johan Perez vs. Dmitry Mikhaylenko on Aug. 8. The 10-round super bantamweight bout will be televised live on HBO Latino® Boxing from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.

Former nine-time World Champion Roy Jones Jr., will host a special meet and greet with fans prior to the televised bouts from 6:00 pm to 7:00 p.m. in the Special Events Center at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Fans with tickets to the event will have an opportunity to meet and take photos with the decorated champion, along with having him sign boxing memorabilia.

As previously announced Johan “El Terrible” Perez (20-2-1, 13 KOs), former interim WBA Light Welterweight Champion of Caracas, Venezuela, will defend his current NABA Welterweight Title against undefeated Russian boxer Dmitry “The Mechanic” Mikhaylenko (19-0, 8 KOs) the exciting 12-round main event on HBO Latino Boxing. In the opening televised bout, Tevin Farmer (19-4-1, 4 KOs) of Philadelphia will fight Juan Rodriguez (25-5, 22 KOs) of Puebla, Mexico in a 10-round super featherweight fight. In the non-televised undercard, undefeated featherweight Joet Gonzalez (11-0, 4 KOs) of Glendora, Calif., Palm Desert junior middleweight favorite Neeco Macias (8-0, 4 KOs), and middleweight Quilisto Madera (1-0) of Las Vegas are set to fight in respective eight-round, six round and four-round matches.

Tickets are priced at $25, $35 and $45 and available for purchase now at the Fantasy Springs Box Office, by calling (800) 827-2946 or online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com.

Johan Perez vs. Dmitry Mikhaylenko is a 12-round welterweight title bout for Perez’s NABA Welterweight Title, presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra and Mexico, Live It To Believe It! Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and the first bell rings at 5:05 p.m. The HBO Latino telecast airs live at 10:30 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT).

Hailing from Ciego de Avila, Cuba, but now fighting out of Miami, Florida, Yoandris Salinas is looking to get back into the world title contention game. A professional since 2009, Salinas has remained consistently active earning the WBC Latino Super Bantamweight Title and the WBA Fedebol Super Bantamweight Title. Salinas got his shot at the WBA Super Bantamweight World Title in 2013 against Scott Quigg, delivering an action-packed and equally matched fight that resulted in a draw. Now coming off of a victory against Ricardo Alvarado in April of 2015, Salinas is determined to prove he is still in the title game when he goes up against Manuel “Tino” Avila for the vacant Interim NABF Super Bantamweight Title.

The undefeated standout Manuel “Tino” Avila of Fairfield, Calif. has taken the local boxing scene by storm since his professional debut at Fight Night Club at Club Nokia in Los Angeles in 2010. 2014 was a busy year for Avila, as he took on and defeated Enrique Quevedo, David De La Mora, and Sergio Frias. In his first bout of 2015, the Fairfield, Calif. native defeated Erick Ruiz, via unanimous decision on May 7. Now, facing the toughest opponent of his career in the experienced Yoandris Salinas, Avila is ready to prove that he has what it takes to become a world champion on August 8.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow on Twitter at @GoldenBoyBoxing, @HBOLatino, and, become a fan on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/hbolatino, and visit us on Instagram @GoldenBoyBoxing.

LAS VEGAS, July 10, 2015 — Roy Jones Jr. Boxing Promotions, in continuing its commitment to becoming a leading force in the boxing industry, and bringing fans the hottest fight cards, featuring a new generation of world class fighters, announced today that it has joined forces with Arizona-based Iron Boy Promotions to present top-quality boxing events in Arizona, beginning with the Battle of the Unknown, August 15th at We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center. This is the latest expansion of the RJJ juggernaut in its quest to take the promotional company to the next level. RJJ Boxing and Iron Boy Promotions have agreed to a one-fight deal that will deliver more of the pulse-pounding, heart-stopping knockouts that RJJ Boxing and Iron Boy Boxing have become known for by a burgeoning fan base, and amongst the broader boxing community.

“Both Roy and I feel that Iron Boy has built a great foundation for boxing in Phoenix. We are excited to team up with Iron Boy Promotions to expand in that market,” said Keith Veltre, CEO of RJJ Boxing.

“The Iron Boy Boxing team is very optimistic about forging this partnership with Roy Jones Jr. Promotions,” said a spokesperson for Iron Boy Promotions. “Keith and his team have been great to work with so far, and I think it’s a positive thing that while promoters are competing against each other, we are working together to bring a great show and great value to boxing fans in Arizona. We’re excited to welcome Roy Jones, Jr. Promotions to the Iron Boy family, and we are looking forward to undertaking our first event together.”

This partnership between RJJ and Iron Boy Boxing comes just in time for a planned August 15th event in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Junior NABF Middleweight Champion, Louis “The Unknown” Rose (12-2, 4KO), will return to the very ring in which he experienced the biggest professional victory of his career, knocking out his opponent in the sixth round of their eight round bout at RJJ Boxing’s debut Arizona event in March. Rose will square off against “The Fighting Pride of Phoenix,” Andrew “Hurricane” Hernandez (9-1, 1KO). It promises to be another of the “no quarter asked, no quarter given” warrior-style matches for which RJJ Boxing is becoming so rapidly known.

The exhilarating, high-caliber boxing event will take place at the We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center, which is located at 10438 N. Fort McDowell Road in Scottsdale, Arizona. Tickets for “Battle of the Unknown” are priced at $75 ringside, $50 reserved, and $30 general admission, and can be purchased at tickets.ticketforce.com or by calling 877-840-0457.

Former light heavyweight title holder Ronald “The American Dream” Johnson ( WBC USNBC) makes his long awaited ring return on August 15th at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut on the televised portion of the Knockout finale featuring ring legend Roy Jones Jr.

Ronald Johnson (11-1) is known both for fighting and promoting big boxing events that featured Zab Judah, Joel Casamayor, Michael Grant, Hector Camacho Jr. and many other notable names in the sport. After a five-year hiatus from the ring he is back and focused on boxing.

The Las Vegas, Nevada resident will campaign in the cruiserweight division and look to work his way towards a title shot. Steven Marcano who is the Executive Producer of the boxing reality show Knockout said, “Ronnie is my little brother. My partners and I gave Ron his first contract 11 years ago. We really believed in Ron and offered him a deal worth over $200,000 when he was just getting into the professional ranks. He was only 19 years old at the time. Ron told me that he’s ready to resume his career and I’m here to help him get back where he needs to be and this is the start.”

Knockout season 2 is slated to premiere in July and air weekly through August 15th when the show culminates with it’s second live fight card. The fight card will be headlined by Roy Jones Jr. and also feature bouts by Johnson and the reality show’s winners. The show will air live on NUVOtv/Fuse and take place from the Foxwoods Resort and Casino.

Former four-division world champion and future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. (61-8) will continue his quest towards a world title in a fifth weight class on August 15th. Jones, who has reeled off 7 victories in a row, will headline Knockout Season 2’s live fight card at the Foxwoods Hotel and Casino and will be broadcast live on Fuse/NuvoTV. Jones also served as the host of Knockout’s second season.

The 46-hear-old Jones, who has captured world titles as a middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight, is working his way towards a title shot at cruiserweight to complete the quinfecta. He is also scheduled to fight on August 29th and said that he loves keeping a busy schedule.

“I am going to fight on Knockout on the 15th and then again on the 29th. I did two (fights) in March and I am liking how it feels so I am going to do two again in August and see how that feels. If I like how it feels then I will do it again maybe two or three weeks apart,” said Jones.

The Pensacola, Fla. native said that he wants to bring back the old school when like fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta faced each other twice in a three week span. A lot of today’s fighters struggle to get in two fights in a year, let alone in a month.

“See, they are getting away from the old school stuff. I want to take it back to old school boxing where they used to fight every three weeks. Those were guys that were true fighters. I like that. I want to see how it feels,” said Jones. “You can’t do that now because of technology and the rules but I want to prove that I am the only old school OG around, you feel me?

“Fighting two or three weeks apart if I can. If I can do it, I want to do it because I want to keep on going as long as I can. Can’t nobody tell Roy Jones when to start and nobody can tell Roy Jones when he should stop. Roy Jones is going to do what he wants to do and I enjoying myself in the ring and I am going to get back where I want to be,” stated Jones.

Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. will headline Knockout Season 2 that will also feature the winner’s of Knockout Season 2. This season features the featherweight, lightweight, and cruiserweight divisions and will be broadcast from the beautiful Foxwoods Hotel and Casino on Fuse/NuvoTV.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (March 24, 2015) – Square Ring Promotions and Island Fights Championships announced today that Roy Jones, Jr. (60-8, 43 KO’s) would be back in the ring on March 28, 2015 in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida in a WBU Cruiserweight title defense bout against Paul Vasquez (10-6-1, 3 KO’s) at the Pensacola Bay Center.

“I want to stay active and continue on my path towards a fight with Marco Huck later this year,” said Roy Jones. “I’ve been working on some different things and the fights I’ve been doing are helping me hone these. I haven’t fought here in Pensacola for 6 years and I really am looking forward to seeing all my fans Saturday night. Pensacola in the house . . . Body-Head!”
Vasquez, who is known for donating his purse to Children’s Hospitals, is planning to do the same for this fight. “I jumped at the chance to fight Roy Jones. It’s truly an honor for me, but make no mistake, I’m coming to win.”
“Roy just fought 3 weeks ago in North Carolina, and we were already planning one of our Island Fights mixed cards for March 28. Roy said he wanted to fight on it too, since it was already a mixed boxing and MMA show, and so we made it happen,” said John Wirt, CEO of Square Ring Promotions. “We have a huge card of local boxers and MMA fighters and with Roy topping the bill, Pensacola is going have a chance to see not only a great evening of fights, but also their hometown legend.”
“I encouraged Roy to take this fight,” said McGee Wright, Jones’ longtime manager. “Roy has won his last 6 fights in a row, and his last 3 by stoppage. The stuff he has been working on is really starting to pay off and this is a process that we are going through on purpose to get him ready both physically and mentally for the Huck fight.”
On the MMA side, the top MMA fight features Pensacola’s rising star, Dillon Cleckler, currently 8-0 as a professional. “Dillon is psyched to be fighting on a Roy Jones card,” said Dean Toole, CEO of Island Fights Championships. “This event is going to be huge and we have all the top talent who haven’t yet been signed by the UFC. Dillon has had a total of 18 fights and has finished every opponent that has been put in front of him. He was also recently named the 2014 Florida Fighter of the Year.”
Just recently added to the already stacked card, is Black Zillions team member Lorenzo “The Samoan Silverback” Hood. “Lorezno is a freakish 25 year old, 265 pound machine,” Toole continued. “With a 12-2 record, 12 out of his 14 fights have been finished in the first round by way of knockout. But come Saturday night, he will have his toughest test yet when he faces TUF veteran Jeremy May. Jeremy is currently undefeated as a heavyweight and is on a 5 fight win streak. There are so many great fights on this card that each and every one of them is worthy of being a main event. Everyone is so pumped about this show. We have fighters coming from as far as the U.K., such as Lady Gaga Little Monster Fes Batista, as well as from all of the surrounding states. Its gonna be pandemonium this Saturday in the Pensacola Bay Center.”

Former pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr. will return to the ring on March 6 against Willie Williams in a Cruiserweight bout in Charlotte, North Carolina according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.

“What I am doing is staying busy because Marco Huck said he will fight me in the fall,” Jones told ESPN.com on Tuesday. “I ain’t no spring chicken and I need to be properly prepared to fight Huck. If I get that fight it will probably be my last stab at (a world title) and then I’d call it a day. But I want to make sure I am ready as can be.”

“He said he would love to give me the opportunity,” Jones said. “He is going to fight a fight and I’m gonna fight once or twice and make sure I am right and ready to fight. He said he would fight me in the fall, toward the end of the year. He’s the champ so I need to wait until he’s ready. But I want to make sure I am ready.”

“If you don’t have a goal you can’t fight,” Jones said. “So I decided to go for the cruiserweight title. That’s my new goal and has been for a little bit. I won a lot of titles but I never won the cruiserweight title or tried to win it. Now I have a goal. Without a goal, there ain’t no sense in fighting.”

“I know Marco Huck is a totally different animal,” Jones said. “That’s why I want him. If I beat Marco Huck I’ve done something. Marco Huck is my man. I don’t pay no mind to the critics.

LAS VEGAS, NV. (November 7, 2014) — The sub plot thickens! When undefeated World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight champion JESSIE VARGAS makes his second title defense, against former world champion ANTONIO DEMARCO, on the MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO vs. CHRIS ALGIERI World Welterweight Championship pay-per-view undercard, it will be more than a battle between two Mexican warriors, it will be the first time FREDDIE ROACH and four-division world champion ROY JONES, JR. have worked the same fight as trainers from opposite corners. Furthermore, Jones will be doing the commentary on the remaining pay-per-view telecast fights.

How did the Vargas-Jones partnership come to be?

“I called Jessie’s fight on HBO when he fought [Anton] Novikov last August. Jessie won but I did not see the improvements I was hoping to see,” said Jones. “He asked me to train him for the DeMarco fight and I agreed. I am working with five fighters right now but Jessie is my first champion. We worked on Jessie’s mechanics for the first four weeks before we began sparring. He’s developing more speed – and more speed means more power. My plan is to work Jessie’s corner in Macau, then go back to ringside and call the fights for HBO Pay-Per-View.”

” We met for first time at his gym for a fundraiser and right out of the blue
he said he would like to give me tips on how to throw punches with much more power,” said Vargas. “So I took him up on his offer and the very next day, in his gym in Las Vegas, he showed me a couple of things. I was intrigued by his method of teaching. That’s when I asked him if he would train me. He accepted and I am very excited to be working with Roy. He has so much to teach me. He knows all about power – who can ever forget Roy’s big hook? His in-ring positioning is the best and that is what he is teaching me. Already I feel the power. I am fighting my third straight left hander in DeMarco. We’ve had three left handed sparring partners in camp. It’s a thrill to be trained by Roy Jones. He not only tells you about a certain move but can show it to you, too. When you are a champion there are challenges and you have to keep improving yourself. I have a lot of stake in this fight. Manny is moving down to 140 lbs I am told. He is on my radar for the biggest fight of all.”

Vargas (25-0, 9 KOs), of Las Vegas, NV., will be fighting outside the U.S. for the first time in his professional career. He captured the WBA super lightweight title on the April 12 Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr world welterweight title rematch in Las Vegas, winning a unanimous decision over undefeated defending champion Khabib Allakhverdiev. It was a close and competitive fight that proved Vargas’ grit as he bit down hard during the championship rounds to pull away with the victory and the world championship belt. His impressive resume includes victories over former world champions Stevie Forbes and Vivian Harris and top contenders Josesito Lopez, Lucky Boy Omotoso, Ray Narh and Lanardo Tyner. In his last fight, on August 2, Vargas successfully defended his title against undefeated contender Anton Novikov via a unanimous decision.

DeMarco (31-3-1, 23 KOs), of Tijuana, Mexico, captured the WBC lightweight championship crown on his second try, winning the vacant title with an 11th-round stoppage of top-rated contender Jorge Linares in 2011. DeMarco successfully defended the title twice during his one-year reign — both by knockout — against Miguel Roman and John Molina. Since moving up in weight, he has won three straight fights, with two of those victories coming by way of knockout. In his last fight, on August 23, DeMarco won a 10-round unanimous decision over Landro Tyner.

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Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship event will take place Saturday, November 22, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

“24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri,” premieres This Saturday! November 8 at 1:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on HBO immediately following the live World Championship Boxing event from Atlantic City.

An all-new special “Under the Lights: Pacquiao-Algieri” debuts Next Saturday! November 15 at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #PacAlgieri to join the conversation on Twitter.

LOS ANGELES (November 7, 2014) — Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight champion CHRIS ALGIERI made his final appearance in Los Angeles before heading off to The Venetian Macao to challenge Fighter of the Decade and reigning WBO welterweight champion MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO. Algieri (20-0, 8 KOs), from Huntington, NY on Long Island, who has Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Management, a Masters degree in Clinical Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Upsets Inside the Ring, hosted a Los Angeles press conference luncheon on Thursday, at The Conga Room.

International motion picture superstar SYLVESTER STALLONE paid a surprise visit to the press conference so he could see his real-life “Rocky” image in-person.

“In my business life imitates art. But in Chris’ case I think it’s the other way around,” said Stallone. “Watching Chris rebound from those two first-round knockdowns against Ruslan Provodnikov and out-box him the next 11 rounds to win the title was more than an upset. It was Rocky-esque. As for his fight against Manny Pacquiao on November 22, all I can say to you Chris is great movies deserve great sequels and I won’t be the least surprised to see you give us one in Macao.”

“It was the thrill of a lifetime,” said Algieri. “When I put my arm around him to pose for a photo all I could feel were muscles. Boxing owes a great deal to ‘Rocky’ and Sylvester Stallone.”

“Chris Algieri’s story has captured the imagination of the sports world. It’s all you read about in the United States and throughout Asia, not unlike Sly Stallone’s, “Rocky,” which did the same thing in 1976 and won the Academy Award for Best Picture,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

Algieri, who spent the first four weeks of training camp in New York, moved his base of operations to Las Vegas enduring intensive training and conditioning for the remaining six weeks in preparation for his battle against Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative from the Sarangani Province of the Philippines, and boxing’s only eight-division world champion. Algieri departs for Macao next Wednesday night from Los Angeles.

Joining Algieri at the press conference was WBO featherweight champion VASYL LOMACHENKO, World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight champion JESSIE VARGAS and his new trainer, former four-division world champion ROY JONES, JR., China’s most iconic athlete, undefeated Top-Five flyweight contender and two-time Olympic gold medalist ZOU SHIMING and Hall of Fame promoter BOB ARUM. Lomachenko and Vargas will be defending their titles while Zou fights in a world title elimination bout on the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship pay-per-view portion of the undercard.

Promoted by Top Rank® and Sands China Ltd., in association with MP Promotions, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, Banner Promotions and Tecate, the Pacquiao-Algieri world welterweight championship event will take place Saturday, November 22, at The Venetian® Macao’s Cotai Arena, and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

“24/7 Pacquiao/Algieri,” premieres Tomorrow! Saturday, November 8 at 1:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on HBO immediately following the live World Championship Boxing event from Atlantic City.

An all-new special “Under the Lights: Pacquiao-Algieri” debuts Next Saturday! November 15 at 11:45 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, or twitter.com/hboboxing. Use the Hashtag #PacAlgieri to join the conversation on Twitter.

Former pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr. will be back in action on September 26 when he travels to Russia to fight Haney Atiyo according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

On July 26, Jones, boxing’s No. 1 fighter from 1994 to 2004, traveled to Riga, Latvia, and knocked out British journeyman Courtney Fry in the fifth round, his first knockout since stopping former super middleweight titlist Jeff Lacy in the 10th round in August 2009.

“The good thing about fighting twice back-to-back is it makes me stay in shape,” Jones said. “My body feels a lot better now than that it has in a long time. Being active is important and by being active, I make sure I am in the best shape.”

“They asked me would I come back and do it again and we made a deal,” Jones said. “I’m happy to go Russia. I have a lot of fans there and this is another tune-up to keep me active.”

“I know the guy I’m fighting is supposed to be a strong puncher, but not the most skillful guy,” Jones said. “I know he will try to jump on me and try to get me out of there. It’s cool though. I know what to expect.”

ones said his goal is to eventually get a shot at cruiserweight world titlist Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, 32, of Poland. The day after Jones’ fight, Wlodarczyk (49-2-1, 35 KOs) is scheduled to defend his belt against European champion Grigory Drozd (38-1, 27 KOs) in Moscow.

Jones, an obvious future Hall of Famer, who has held world titles at heavyweight, light heavyweight, super middleweight and middleweight, said he has been invited to attend Wlodarczyk’s fight and plans to fly there the day after his bout to be ringside.

“I want a shot at Wlodarczyk and then I’m done,” said Jones, whom many have called on to retire. “After I knock him out, I’m done. If I lost that would definitely be it, but I ain’t gonna lose. Even if I won the title, I might walk away, but you know if I win the title I’ll get some good offers, so I would consider them. I know Wlodarczyk is fighting in Moscow and I will be there. It’s about a 2½-hour flight and I am going there after my fight.

“I’ve had my eye on Wlodarczyk for some time. He has said he wanted to fight me. Let’s do it.”

By Norm Frauenheim-

Roy Jones Jr. continues to fight and we wish he wouldn’t. Andre Ward doesn’t fight and we wish he would.

It’s hard to explain and harder to understand. Then again, business-as-usual has never made much sense in a sport where the primary goal is to render the other guy senseless. In one form or another, it gets repeated, ad nauseam. Ward might not be the worst example. He’s just the current one.

Ward is still included among the top five on those pound-for-pound lists, yet he’s persona-non-grata in discussions about middleweight Gennady Golovkin’s options after a predictable stoppage of Daniel Geale in New York, or speculation about light-heavyweight Sergey Kovalev’s next move after a likely victory Saturday over Blake Caparello in Atlantic City. This was the same Ward who beat Carl Froch and would probably be the pick to beat him in a rematch. Yet, Ward was bypassed without a mention in ongoing discussions for a Jan. 24 bout with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who once flirted with the idea of Ward, yet moved on.

Ward fought once in 2012. Once in 2013. He hasn’t fought at all in 2014. Shoulder surgery contributed to the inactivity. More problematic, however, is a lawsuit filed last December against promoter Dan Goossen. Ward is attempting to end a contract that ties him to Goossen until November 2016, according to an arbiter’s ruling — one of two that upheld the deal.

In the wake of the filing, Ward said he planned to be active in 2014. He told www.ringtv.com that he hoped to be back in the ring in March or April. The closest he’s been, however, is on the talking side of the ropes. He’ll be there Saturday night as an analyst for HBO’s Boxing After Dark telecast of the Brandon Rios-Diego Chaves from Las Vegas in triple-header telecast that will include Kovalev-Caparello.

Ward is in legal limbo. Amend that. More like legal hell. The lawsuit is a messy web that includes Ward co-promoter Antonio Leonard, who alleges Goossen failed to pay him for his work in Ward’s last fight, a unanimous decision over Edwin Rodriquez in November, 2013. No telling when, if ever, it all gets resolved.

The longer it goes, the more Ward has to lose. He’s 30, his prime. Inactivity also comes with a price to his reputation. He’s unable to prove the naysayers wrong and there are plenty. Fair or not, Ward is known to be difficult in negotiations. He was criticized for not traveling to Europe for a bout in the super-middleweight’s Super Six tournament, which he eventually won. Mention his name as a possibility for Golovkin at 168 pounds or Kovalev at 175, and he’s immediately dismissed as a fighter unable to sell tickets or generate television ratings. Floyd Mayweather Jr. labored under the same assumption until he was allowed to prove it wrong with history’s two highest pay-per-view audiences against Oscar De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez.

As long as he doesn’t fight, the unbeaten Ward can’t prove himself as a worthy attraction. Until he can, criticism of him from Golovkin’s promoters or Kovalev’s managers is gratuitous. Until his legal situation is cleared up, few would agree to fight him anyway. That’s not good for him or a business that can’t let a valuable resource waste away. It’s already been a year of declining pay-per-view numbers. In a non-PPV bout, Golovkin’s ratings fell in his third-round stoppage of Geale. According to Nielsen Media Research, the bout averaged 984,000 viewers, down from the 1.41-million average for Golovkin’s stoppage of Curtis Stevens in November.

The decline has been blamed on the quick stoppage. The theory is that there would have been more viewers if the fight had gone beyond just three rounds. Golovkin’s victory over Stevens went into the eighth. A summer lull also been blamed. But both sound like spin. Sure, maybe, many of the usual customers were at the beach instead of in front of their television screens. If they were, however, it might have been because one fighter, Golovkin, is from Kazakhstan, still better-known for Borat than GGG. Then, there was Geale, who is from Australia, better known for Russell Crowe and Crocodile Dundee than middleweights.

The numbers, pay-per-view or non-PPV, would have been a lot higher had Golovkin fought Ward. That’s a safe guess, a slam dunk. If only a Golovkin-Ward, or even Kovalev-Ward, was a sure thing.

It’s not. Without it, the decline in television numbers figures to continue. It makes me think of an old lyric by Jones, who will be in Atlantic City as an HBO analyst for Kovalev-Caprello Saturday one week after his fifth-round stoppage of somebody named Courtney Fry in Latvia.

In 2002, Jones released a rap CD that included Ya’ll Must Have Forgot. Jones re-states his pound-for-pound claim in the old song. More than a decade later, it has a different meaning, yet might be as relevant as ever. Fans might forget Ward in a business that needs him and them.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr. will fight on July 26 in Latvia.

He will take on Courtney Fry (18-5, 6 KOs) in a 12-round Cruiserweight bout.

“I know he’ll give it all he got, which is what I want from any opponent,” Jones said. “I want to go out and do my thing and take what I’ve been doing in the gym to the boxing ring.”

The fight is the main event of a card that is also scheduled to feature long-faded heavyweight James Toney (76-9-3, 46 KOs), Jones’ one-time rival and a former three-division titleholder. They met in a 1994 super middleweight world championship fight that Jones won by one-sided decision to claim the 168-pound belt.

Toney, 45, is scheduled to fight 6-foot-9, 330-pound Evgeny Orlov (15-12-1, 11 KOs), 35, of Russia. KP Promotion, which is putting on the card, initially wanted to match Jones with Toney in a rematch, but Jones said he had no interest.

“I’m not doing that. For what reason? What do I gain from that? What am I gaining from that fight,” Jones said. “I already beat him and beating him again does nothing for me. Besides, I want to fight for the cruiserweight title. I ain’t interested in going up to heavyweight again.”

“You do think about it but it’s hard to leave when you know you still got it. I know I still got it,” he said. “I’m very much looking forward to [going to Latvia].”

Jones has not recorded a knockout victory since stopping former super middleweight titlist Jeff Lacy in the 10th round in August 2009.

“I will get one this time,” Jones said.

HBO’s hit late-night boxing franchise returns for an all-action doubleheader when HBO BOXING AFTER DARK: SERGEY KOVALEV VS. CEDRIC AGNEW AND KARIM MAYFIELD VS. THOMAS DULORME is seen SATURDAY, MARCH 29 at 10:00 p.m. (live ET/tape-delayed PT) from the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, exclusively on HBO. The HBO Sports team of Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones Jr. will be ringside for the event, which will be available in HDTV, closed-captioned for the hearing-impaired and presented in Spanish on HBO Latino.

Other HBO playdates: March 30 (10:00 a.m.) and April 1 (midnight)
HBO2 playdates: March 30 (4:45 p.m.) and 31 (11:00 p.m.)
In the 12-round main event, Krusher Kovalev (23-0, 21 KOs) of Russia defends his light heavyweight crown against Chicago’s Cedric Agnew (26-0, 13 KOs). Surging to the top of the 175-pound division in powerhouse fashion, the undefeated Kovalev, 30, knocked out his last six opponents in four rounds or fewer, most recently defeating top contender Ismayl Sillakh on HBO in November. Fans expect another remarkable display of power from Kovalev, who now calls Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., home.
A formidable challenger in his own right, the undefeated Agnew, 27, has taken the competition the distance in each of his last four bouts. He turned in a convincing performance in his most recent outing, an April 2013 contest against Yusaf Mack, earning a shot at a major title in his HBO debut.
The evening opens with a junior welterweight matchup expected to thrill, as San Francisco’s Karim Mayfield (18-0-1, 11 KOs) and Thomas Dulorme (20-1, 14 KOs) of Carolina, Puerto Rico, meet for a scheduled ten-round, 140-pound bout. The undefeated 33-year-old Mayfield knocked out Christopher Fernandez in eight rounds in his previous bout last September. Making his HBO debut in 2012 with a ten-round drubbing of rugged veteran Mauricio Herrera for a unanimous decision victory, Mayfield expects to shine in his first trip to Atlantic City.
In his only previous HBO appearance, Dulorme, 24, fell to Luis Carlos Abregu in the seventh round of their 2012 title bout, despite a game performance. Since then, the highly-valued prospect has scored two knockouts and two decisions to go undefeated in 2013. This will be Dulorme’s second visit to Boardwalk Hall.
Immediately following the doubleheader, HBO will present the premiere of 24/7 Pacquiao/Bradley 2 at 12 midnight (ET/PT).
Follow HBO boxing news at hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/hboboxing and on Twitter at twitter.com/hboboxing.
All HBO boxing events are presented in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.
The executive producer of HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is Rick Bernstein; producer, Jon Crystal; director, Johnathan Evans.
® HBO BOXING AFTER DARK is a registered service mark of Home Box Office, Inc.

Las Vegas (JANUARY 28, 2014)–Boxing legend and four division world champion Roy Jones Jr. has confirmed that he will appear at the inaugural Box Fan Expo this September at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Jones, who was the former Middleweight, Super Middleweight. Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight champion of the world will be in attendance to meet his fans at his own booth and will be available to sign autographs and photo-ops.

Jones will also have merchandise to sell to his fans with pricing detailS to follow.

” I’m looking forward to meeting all of the boxing fans at BOX FAN EXPO. It’s going to be a wonderful experience and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”, said Jones Jr.

Every year, one of the biggest boxing weekends of the year is Mexican Independence Day. In 2014, that weekend has just got bigger, better and more fan accessible with the announcement of the FIRST-EVER BOX FAN EXPO.

Box Fan Expo will take place on Saturday, September 13th, 2014 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and will run from 10am to 6pm.

Box Fan Expo is the ultimate fan experience that was created to promote the entire boxing industry and to allow fans to celebrate and join their favorite boxers and boxing celebrities. The event will feature boxing legends, today’s superstars, Hall of Famers, future prospects and the stars of today all under one roof.

The event will also feature major promoters, ring card girls, sanctioning organizations as well as trainers, referees, commentators and announcers. Anyone that directly or indirectly represents the sport of boxing will have a chance to showcase themselves to the boxing fans and whole industry. Also in attendance will be exhibitors, sponsors, television broadcasters and media.

Box Fan Expo will also feature different activities such as meet and greets, autograph sessions, photo ops and you can weigh in and face off with your favorite fighters.

Throughout the next several months, there will be weekly updates on the many stars that have already committed their appearance at the Box Fan Expo.

For anyone in the industry who would like to be involved and reserve a booth, contact

Box Fan Expo at:
U.S.A Telephone Number: (702) 997-2099 or (514) 572-7222

Email info@boxfanexpo.com | For more info go to:www.boxfanexpo.com

PENSACOLA, Fla. (December 3, 2013) – Square Ring Promotions and Hrunov Promotions announced today that Roy Jones, Jr. (56-9, 40 KO’s) would be back in the ring on December 21, 2013 in Moscow, Russia in a 12 round WBU Cruiserweight title fight against Frenchman Zine Eddine Benmakhlouf (17-3-1, 8 KO’s).

“Roy is excited to be coming back to Russia to fight, and we are very happy that we were able to put this together so quickly with our good friend and partner Vlad Hrunov,” said John Wirt, CEO of Square Ring Promotions. “We are disappointed that the fight with Bobby Gunn didn’t happen, but there were just too many loose ends, and it was taking far too long. Vlad came forward and closed the deal on Monday. We have a longstanding relationship with him and his team and knew that he could make it happen.”
“I told Bobby that I would fight him. I meant it then and mean it now,” said Roy Jones. “On Saturday, John told me that they were still trying to make changes to the contract, but that he could make a deal with Vlad, so I told him that the first one to close a deal was where I was gonna go and Russia won. That’s why we’re calling this fight ‘Winner Take All.’”
“This is my early Christmas present to all Russian boxing fans,” said Vlad Hrunov. “Most Americans don’t realize how much Roy is loved here in Russia—he’s bigger than Ali or Tyson. Russian fans want to root for Roy—that’s why I picked a foreign opponent for him. December 21 is going to be a huge Christmas party and a great night of boxing.”
“I encouraged Roy to take the fight in Russia,” said McGee Wright, Jones’ longtime manager. “We have been developing the Russian market for the past couple of years and it was the perfect time for Roy to fight there again. It’s always a pleasure to visit, and we are looking forward to another RJJ classic!”

To increase the growing intensity of their upcoming WBU Cruiserweight Title fight, former boxing champions Bobby “The Celtic Warrior” Gunn and Roy Jones Jr. have announced that their bout will be a winner takes all contest, meaning the fighter who earns the belt that night will earn the complete purse.

These types of stakes are often found in bare knuckle boxing, which Gunn is no stranger to. Two years ago Gunn fought in the first sanctioned BKB match in over 123 years, winning the heavyweight title of the world. On December 3, 2013 from the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA, he will look to add the squared circle world belt to his trophy case, being the only fighter to possess both bare knuckle and gloved boxing titles simultaneously since the late John L. Sullivan.
About the winner takes all bout, Gunn stated, “By doing this it shows everybody in the world how important and how much this fight means to me. I’m not coming in for any other reason than to win this fight and win big with a knockout.”
In his last two bouts Gunn faced former world champions Tomasz Adamek and James Toney, losing in a controversial stoppage to Adamek and suffering a broken hand in the battle with Toney, and now will add former pound-for-pound champion and future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. to his impressive fight resume.
“Roy is a class act in and out of the ring and it is a privilege and honor to beat him, but that being said, this is my time, and I plan to capture the WBU Title in what I expect to be a very exciting and fan-friendly matchup,” said Gunn.
Both Gunn and Jones Jr. have lived decorated careers inside the ring, and have established themselves as top fighters. Come December 3 they won’t be fighting to move up the rankings, or to earn sponsorship deals…they will be fighting for one reason, to claim the WBU Cruiserweight Title.
“I’ve never been more focused and ready for a fight, and I know this is my time to shine and knockout Roy,” said Gunn. “There can only be one…Gunn.”
Bobby Gunn and Roy Jones Jr. meet December 3 at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, PA for the WBU Cruiserweight Title. The fight will be aired on internet TV and international PPV with details to come.