Fedor Emelianenko ‘interested’ in boxing Roy Jones Jr but not ‘bloggers and singers’

Fedor Emelianenko is the latest mixed martial arts (MMA) legend interested in entering the boxing ring.

Emelianenko recently expressed interest in boxing former multi-division champion Roy Jones Jr. “The Last Emperor” is looking for battle-tested competition, refusing to humor the idea of boxing Internet personalities like Jake Paul or Logan Paul.

“I would be interested,” Emelianenko told BoxingScene when asked about a potential fight against Jones. “I have already worked with Denis Lebedev (who beat Jones in 2011), with other guys [in boxing]. I have been boxing myself since 2000. So, yes, it would be interesting to have such a fight, but not with bloggers and singers, not with people from outside the world of sports. Roy Jones is a legend of world boxing, so of course, it would be interesting to do it with him.

“He has such a track record,” Fedor continued. “He will always be Roy Jones, although he will no longer have that crazy [hand] speed.”

Emelianenko, 44, (39-6-0-1, MMA) last competed at Bellator 237 on Dec. 29, 2019, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, earning a first-round technical knockout over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. He is 3-2 during his Bellator stint with all five-fights ending via first-round (technical) knockout.

Jones, 52, (66-9) most recently boxed “Iron” Mike Tyson to a split draw in an eight-round exhibition match on Nov. 28, 2020 (watch highlights). He has not competed professionally since beating Scott Sigmon via unanimous decision in 2018 and retired on a four-fight win streak.

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