Roy Jones Jr. Finally Explains Why He's Fighting a Fan on PPV

By Carlos Boogs

Former four division world champion Roy Jones Jr. (62-9, 45KOs) raised a lot of eyebrows when he announced that he was taking part in the UR Fight internet pay-per-view on March 20th at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona.

As previously reported, Jones will be the headliner of the card, where a lucky fan would have the opportunity to win a $100,000 if they are able to beat the former champ.

Fans were required to submit videos to UR Fight. The submitted video had each fan/fighter explain why UR Fight should select them to fight Jones.

The selected opponent was announced as unknown 33-year-old MMA fighter Vyron Phillips, who has a 5-3 record in MMA. Phillips will have the opportunity to win the biggest payday of his career if he is able to beat the former champ.

The last time the 47-year-old Jones was in the ring, he was brutally knocked out in four rounds in December by former WBO cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli in Russia.

"Well, myself and Ira [Terk, CEO of URShow.TV] had been talking about this for a couple of years. We was talking about doing some things with UR TV and so we've been talking about this for three years or four. Before I fought my last fight in Russia, he was like 'we should do one with a fan,' and I said that sounds like a good idea," Jones told CBS Sports.

"I already told Ira that I would do this deal and, um, it's crazy because it's boxing. Anything can happen. It's like baseball, if a guy can hit a ball, who says he couldn't hit a home run off of Goose Gossage or somebody on one swing because that's what baseball is. Over the course of time, he can throw one punch and get lucky, but that's with anybody."

" At the same time, as a fan, he's not going to be able to deal with me as a boxer, but he gets the thrill of a lifetime to be able to get in the ring with me. You know how many people would give up their life to get in one NBA game or NFL game or get one fight? Just to do something that has been a dream and they've aspired to do for their whole life. Can you imagine what that means for a person?

"I don't really give into the critics because critics are always going to criticize and what have they done? A person who has never done nothing can't really care nothing about doing something. So as far as the critics, I don't care what they think. I don't have time to give to critics. If I spent my career responding to critics, I'd never be where I'm at right now."

The internet pay-per-view will have four main bouts, each in a different genre to attract a variety of different fans. MMA fighters Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping will battle in a grappling match. Former WWE superstars Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio Jr. will have a pro wrestling match. UFC legends Tank Abbott and Dan Severn will clash in an MMA rules rematch. Abbott replaced Ken Shamrock, who was originally announced to face Severn.