Former Tyson rival reaches out to Topuria with interesting offer

Roy Jones Jr. has offered to help Ilia Topuria with his striking in the final weeks leading up to his lightweight title fight on June 28 in Las Vegas. The boxing icon said in an interview that he’s “able to make a difference” – confident he can tip the balance in favor of the man they call El Matador.

“I can teach him how to get the most out of his striking while keeping that smart style of his,” said the 56-year-old, who is considering joining Topuria’s training camp to sharpen the UFC star’s stand-up game.

Jones Jr. insists his style suits MMA despite having focused exclusively on boxing throughout his career. “I understand the mechanics of MMA and every kind of fighting,” said the former champion. “I’m not a boxer – I’m a fighter.”

76 fights and a draw with Tyson

A silver medalist at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and a former WBA heavyweight champion despite starting out as a middleweight, Roy Jones Jr. is widely regarded as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in boxing history. His record speaks for itself: 66 wins, 47 by knockout.

In addition to a long and decorated professional career, the Florida native also took part in two exhibition bouts – one of them against Mike Tyson in 2020 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. That clash ended in a split draw.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.