Former undisputed boxing champion and Russian citizen Roy Jones Jr. is eager to take on heavyweight mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Fedor Emelianenko in an exhibition bout in Red Square, Moscow. The two athletes had previously agreed to such a bout, but the bout had to be postponed due to the pandemic.
Speaking to TASS, a Russian news agency, Jones expressed his desire to face Emelianenko in the heart of the Russian capital. “I would love to take on Emelianenko in Red Square,” the 55-year-old boxer said.
Jones, who was granted Russian citizenship in 2015, has an impressive professional boxing career, having won world titles in four different weight classes. At one point, he was considered the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer. The American-born fighter has 66 wins, including 47 knockouts, and nine losses over his career.
On the other side, Emelianenko, known as “The Last Emperor,” is a legendary figure in the MMA world. The 47-year-old Russian has an official MMA record of 40 wins and six defeats. During his illustrious career, Emelianenko held the Pride Fighting Championships Heavyweight Championship from 2003 to 2007 and won numerous other titles, including the FIAS World Combat Sambo Championship Heavyweight title.
In 2009, the esteemed American sports magazine, Sports Illustrated, named Emelianenko “the top MMA fighter of the decade.” The Russian fighter temporarily retired from 2012 to 2015 but made a comeback and had eight more bouts, including victories over notable opponents such as Jaideep Singh, Fabio Maldonado, and Frank Mir.
The potential exhibition match between Jones and Emelianenko would undoubtedly be a highly anticipated event, showcasing the skills of two of the greatest combat sports athletes of their respective eras. Fans in Russia and around the world will be eagerly awaiting any developments regarding the potential bout in the iconic setting of Red Square.
