UFC 285: Roy Jones Jr. Sent Unexpected Message to Jon Jones Moments Before Heavyweight Debut

The dream of millions is finally over. Jon Jones is now the uncrowned king of UFC’s Heavyweight division. It took him barely two minutes to extract a submission win over Ciryl Gane! Fans saw Jon ‘Bones’ Jones in the octagon three years ago in Houston, Texas, as he defended the Light Heavyweight title against Dominick Reyes on February 8, 2020. Six months later, he went ahead and vacated the championship. Through Twitter, he made it clear about the impending move to the Heavyweight division amidst rounds of talks with the UFC top brass over the formalities. Initially, there were talks of a direct face-off with the reigning Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. But the Cameroonian-French fighter’s exit from the UFC altered the equations.

Jones’ opponent, French mixed martial artist Ciryl Gane, faced his first career defeat at the hands of Ngannou on January 22 last year. But ‘Bon Gamin’ bounced back with an emphatic victory over Tai Tuivasa in September. Thus, as one of the claimants to the Heavyweight title, it was apparent that a clash with the debutant Jones would eventuate.

A special message from Roy Jones Jr. to Jon Jones

Few doubt Jon Jones as far as skills go. One of the most unconventional fighters in UFC’s history, his ring adaptability is renowned. But given that it’s his first fight in three years, that too in a hitherto unknown division and against an opponent who took mighty Francis Ngannou to the last round, fans had been wishing him in hordes.

Fifty-four-year-old Roy Jones Jr. joined many others who reached out to the former Light Heavyweight champion. Arguably, pound-for-pound, the greatest boxer of all time, Jones Jr. has had a stellar record of sixty-six wins against nine losses. Moreover, he is known for his quick thinking, ring IQ, and positional adaptability. Hence for the fans and followers, Jon Jones’s fighting might share an exact likeness to Jones Jr.’s.

Fighthype shared a YouTube short where Roy Jones Jr. addressed the UFC legend directly. He said, “What up? I’m at the UFC fight checking in. Ya’ll know how we do it. We want a real big win for Jon Jones. Sure thing. Do his thing. Look, light Heavyweight going on heavyweight, I know how it is. I can’t wait to see him do it because he’s a Jones too. You heard me? Jones boys here, peace.“

Though he retired from active boxing in 2018, Roy Jones Jr. took up the gloves to fight an exciting exhibition against former Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in 2020.

‘Superman’ returns

Interestingly, if reports are to be believed, Roy Jones Jr., despite being on the wrong side of fifty, would be fighting former UFC Lightweight champion Anthony Pettis on April 1 at Milwaukee, Wisconcin’s Fiserv Form. According to “mmajunkie. usatoday.com,” Jones Jr. and Pettis will fight in the main card of ‘Gamebred Boxing 4’, promoted by Jorge Masvidal‘s Gamebred Boxing.

Nevertheless, fans cannot wait to see ‘Captain Hook’ in action again. Fans might as well remember what he said: “I always feel like there’s no fighter that I can’t figure out.”

Read More: Nearly 2 Years After the Mike Tyson Fight, Roy Jones Jr. Announces Boxing Comeback

What are your thoughts on JBJ’s successful Heavyweight debut? Do share your views and opinions with us in the comments below.

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