Former mixed martial arts star and current Russian lawmaker Jeff Monson has announced plans for an exhibition boxing match against legendary pugilist Roy Jones Jr. The bout is tentatively scheduled for March 1, 2025, in Ufa, the capital of Russia’s Bashkortostan Republic.
Monson, 53, known as “The Snowman” during his MMA days, boasts an impressive MMA record of 60 wins, 26 losses, and two draws. The Minnesota native is also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion. This exhibition match will likely mark the final chapter in Monson’s storied career, as he stated, “After that I will finally call it quits.”
The announcement comes after Monson’s recent election to the State Council of Bashkortostan as a member of the ruling United Russia party. His political career began in 2018 when he was elected to the Council of Deputies in the Krasnogorsk District, an inner suburb of Moscow. Monson, who gained Russian citizenship in May 2018, has long been known for his affinity for Russia and its Soviet heritage.
Roy Jones Jr., Monson’s proposed opponent, is a boxing icon with an illustrious career spanning multiple weight classes. The former undisputed champion, who became a Russian citizen in 2015, is the only boxer in history to claim world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions. With 66 professional wins (47 by knockout) and a silver medal from the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Jones brings a wealth of experience to this unique matchup. Tass was the first to report on the news.
This exhibition bout represents the latest crossover between MMA and boxing, as well as a meeting of two athletes who have embraced Russia as their adopted home.
