Roy Jones Jnr has said America would love Anthony Joshua but has told the world heavyweight champion to stay in the UK.
The boxing legend also advised the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO title holder NOT too fight Deontay Wilder until he is “at his peak”.
Jones is a man who knows a lot about boxing having spent 30 years as a professional, winning 66 times including world titles in four different divisions, from middleweight right the way through to heavyweight.
And the 49-year-old told punch-lines that if Joshua is filling the Principality Stadium and Wembley then it would be folly to box smaller venues in the USA.
“Anthony would be big in the States,” said Jones, who is now a commentator with HBO.
“But if you are making the sort of noise in the UK Joshua is then why go to the USA?
“Where the people are coming to watch you is where you should fight.
“If the British fans want to go to the States to see him fight then fine.
“Thousands of Brits came to Vegas with Ricky Hatton when he fought Floyd Mayweather.
“But if I had the choice of fighting in front of 5,000 in the States or 80,000 in the UK, I’m sorry.”
Jones, making an appearance at St James’s Park in Newcastle believes Joshua should wait a “fight or two” before taking to the ring with Wilder.
After the undefeated Watford giant added the WBO belt to his collection in March against Joseph Parker, there has been a clamour for another unification showdown with Wilder, who owns the WBC crown.
“Of course I want to see it, but not next,” said Jones.
“I’d like to see Joshua get one or two more preparation fights in.
“I see him on the incline, he’s getting better every fight but I want to see him at his peak when he fights Wilder.
“I think Wilder is kinda at his peak now and I’d like to see both men there for when they fight.”
Punch-lines caught up with Roy ahead of a sparking performance on an event staged by North-East fight figure and entertainment promoter, Steve Wraith.
The man who was once the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet fought only a few Brits in his career, Joe Calzaghe, Clinton Woods and Enzo Maccarinelli, but it was fighters he did NOT meet he regrets.
“Benn, Eubank, Collins,” he stated. “I’d love to have fought any of those guys because they were so
big on this side of the Pond.
“It would have been a great opportunity to share a ring with any of those guys.”
But who was his favourite Brit?
“My favourite ever English fighter would have to be Naseem Hamed, without doubt.
“Naz was the English version of Roy Jones.”
Words: Roy Kelly Main picture: Lawrence Lustig/ Matchroom
