By Vadim Pushkin

Russian promoter Vladimir "Krasivyy" Hryunov has been speaking with former four division world champion Roy Jones Jr. (65-9, 47 KOs) about the possibility of a May fight in Belarus- and Jones is interested.

Hryunov was very instrumental in Jones obtaining Russian citizenship in September 2015. In December of the same year, Hryunov staged an event in Moscow which saw Jones collide with former cruiserweight world champion Enzo Maccarinelli. Things did not go as expected, with Jones getting brutally knocked out in four rounds.

Besides the fight with Maccarinelli, Jones has taken part in three other bouts on Russian soil since 2011. A few years ago, Hryunov assisted Jones with staging a concert tour that spanned several Russian cities. 

On Friday night at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware - Jones (65-9, 47 KOs), 48-years-old, returned to the ring and stopped Bobby Gunn (21-7-1, 18 KOs) in the eight round.

Hryunov wants to make the Belarus event as big as possible, with a fight involving Jones and another contest that would showcase heavyweight contender Alexander Ustinov.

Ustinov is the mandatory challenger to the vacant WBA "regular" title - which is up for grabs between Shannon Briggs and Fres Oquendo. The winner of Briggs vs. Oquendo will have to fight Ustinov. But, last week nobody submitted a bid to secure the promotional rights to Briggs-Oquendo. A new purse bid date was set for next week. If nobody bids for a second time, then Ustinov might find himself in line to fight one of those two boxers for the vacant belt.

"In the beginning of March, I'm scheduled to meet with Maxim Vladimirovich Ryzhenkova, who is First Deputy Head of Presidential Administration of Belarus," said Hryunov to Vasily Konov.

"Briggs and Oquendo had no luck at the purse bid. If they still do not succeed [at the second purse bid], then Ustinov will directly receive the right to fight for the championship with someone else. There are intentions to conduct this fight in Belarus. I had suggested, that as part of this event a fight would be made with Roy Jones. This idea was met with interest, and we are going to discuss this in the beginning of March.

"After the fight [with Gunn], I spoke to Roy and told him about this idea. I think it will be a continuation of Jones' [career]. There are some tentative dates at the end of May."