Roy Jones Jr not done with fighting despite losing to former UFC lightweight champion making boxing debut in first fight since Mike Tyson exhibition
Roy Jones Jr. wants to continue fighting for as long as possible.
The 54-year-old boxing legend returned to the ring on Saturday night for the first time since an eight-round exhibition bout with Mike Tyson in 2020.
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Jones Jr. squared off against former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, who was making his boxing debut, during Jorge Masvidal’s latest Gamebred Boxing event.
The fight was tightly contested throughout but Pettis did enough to convince two of the three ringside judges he deserved the victory in his hometown of Milwaukee - the third official scored the fight even after eight rounds.
‘Showtime’ was delighted to beat a member of boxing’s Hall of Fame in his debut and expressed his willingness to rematch Jones Jr. during his post-fight interview.
Pettis said: "Man, he’s 54 years old, but you’ve got to give it up for this guy,”
“He’s a legend in the sport, a GOAT [Greatest Of All Time]. Praise God for allowing me to get this opportunity. Give it up for Roy Jones Jr., man.
“I’m going to take it one fight at a time, take it day by day. I’m 1-0 as a pro and I’m excited for what the future holds. I would love to do it again. Let’s go. It would be an honour, bro.”
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The former four-weight boxing champion drops to 66-10 following his latest loss but is happy with how he performed against an opponent almost 20 years younger than him.
Jones Jr. said: "For me, I like to come in and entertain the fans. My job is to come in and make sure that the fans get what they paid for, and I’m all good with that.
“I think it was a good fight. He did a great job and fought a very smart fight. I think I educated him and taught him a lot in this fight.
"So, I think if I fought him again it would be even better because he knows a lot more now. I think it would be a really good rematch.”
“I don’t do exhibitions, I fight real fights. I’m not an exhibition guy, I’m a real guy. I want to win, or I want to lose. But I’m going to go out on my shield, and I want to be able to do it again as many times as I want to.
“At 54 years old, that’s a beautiful thing, and he already said he’d do it again because one judge had it even. So that’s what I love.”
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