Roy Jones Jr. tuning up for Anderson Silva
source | MixedMartialArts.com (Espn.Go.com)
Now ESPN is reporting that Jones, has not fought since June 2012, wants a tune up fight in Russia as a warm-up for “The Spider.”
Many have called for Jones to retire. He is years past his prime and has suffered four brutal knockout losses in his past seven defeats, but he has ignored those calls. Instead, his main goal is secure a victory against the obscure and untested 36-year-old Eddine Benmakhlouf (17-3-1, 8 KOs), while shaking off the rust of his long layoff in order to be ready for the fight he hopes will be made next — a showdown with UFCstar Anderson Silva in a boxing match in the first half of 2014.
“I want to be ready for Anderson Silva in case he beats Weidman,” said Jones. “Silva has made it clear that if he wins, he wants me next. I’m here for him. That’s a fight that intrigues a lot of people, but I can’t fight Anderson Silva coming off such a long layoff. So I needed to get a fight first. If it wasn’t for Anderson Silva calling me out, I wouldn’t be fighting this fight.”