Roy Jones Jr. to return against MMA fighter Anthony Pettis on April 1
Editor’s note: This article was originally published at MMAJunkie.com.
Roy Jones Jr. is coming back again, this time at 54.
The Hall of Famer will face former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in a scheduled eight-round sanctioned boxing match on the Gamebred Boxing 4 card April 1 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. The event will stream on pay-per-view on UFC Fight Pass.
UFC star Jorge Masvidal, owner of Gamebred Boxing, announced the news Monday, revealing the event and full fight card on The MMA Hour.
Pettis has no history of competing in professional boxing. He was last seen in the MMA world in August, when he lost a unanimous decision to Stevie Ray in the 2022 PFL lightweight semifinals.
Jones (66-9, 47 KOs) will be competing in his first fight since fighting Mike Tyson in an exhibition bout in November 2020. The two fought to a draw. He last fought in a sanctioned bout in 2018, when he outpointed Scott Sigmon.
Jones held titles in four weight classes and won a silver medal in the 1988 Olympics.
In the co-main event of the card, former UFC and WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will take on former foe Jeremy Stephens.
The rest of the card is compiled of many other former UFC fighters as Vitor Belfort takes on Ronaldo Souza, Paul Daley fights Anthony Taylor, and Pearl Gonzalez meets Gina Mazany.
Below are all the matchups announced for Gamebred Boxing 4:
- Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anthony Pettis
- Jose Aldo vs. Jeremy Stephens
- Vitor Belfort vs. Ronaldo Souza
- Paul Daley vs. Anthony Taylor
- Pearl Gonzalez vs. Gina Mazany
- Dillon Cleckler vs. Josh Burns
- Devin Cushing vs. Damian Marciano