The Return of the Lanky Wizard? Roy Jones Jr. Eyes Jake Paul Clash After Tyson Withdrawal

With Mike Tyson’s withdrawal from his much-anticipated clash with Jake Paul due to health concerns, the boxing world has been left scrambling for a replacement. Enter Roy Jones Jr., the legendary yet somewhat tarnished figure, who has surprisingly thrown his hat into the ring.

Jones, now 55 years old, isn’t exactly the spring chicken boxing fans might have envisioned stepping in for “Iron Mike.” His professional career ended on a sour note last year with a defeat to Anthony Pettis, and his legacy carries the weight of some questionable decisions to extend his fighting career. However, the hunger to reclaim a slice of respect from the modern fight audience seems to be burning bright.

This potential fight against Paul wouldn’t be entirely uncharted territory for Jones. In 2020, he squared off against Tyson himself in an exhibition bout. Now, he sees an opportunity to not only fill the Tyson-shaped void but potentially rewrite his recent narrative by defeating the controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer.

Speaking to Betway, Jones revealed his newfound motivation, stating, “Maybe I get myself in shape for that because I never thought about doing it before, but with the situation of the fight [being postponed], I think that’s a great idea. And I’ll be ready and in shape, because if the fight doesn’t happen, then I’m the ideal guy to substitute in place of Mike Tyson to fight Jake Paul.”

While Jones’ professional wins haven’t come since 2018, his confidence remains unshaken. He believes his experience would be enough to outfox Paul in the ring. “I haven’t thought about [how I would box Paul] because, me being me, I only think about being the best I can be and have never thought about that,” Jones said. “I figure it out in the ring.”

Interestingly, this wouldn’t be Jones’ first offer to return to the squared circle. He previously considered facing Tommy Fury and was even approached about an exhibition against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. However, the potential Paul fight seems to hold a special allure. “It would be one of the biggest fights of this decade,” Jones remarked.

The prospect of Jones vs. Paul is certainly an intriguing one. Would the veteran’s experience prevail against Paul’s youthful explosiveness? Or would Jones simply be another notch on Paul’s belt in his quest for boxing legitimacy? Only time will tell if the “Lanky Wizard” can weave his magic once more.