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Roy Jones Jr. insists he has no reason to fight Bernard Hopkins for a second time.
Speaking ahead of his huge showdown with Joe Calzaghe in New York on November 8, the five-time world champion dismissed claims his legacy would be incomplete without a rematch against The Executioner.
Their previous encounter way back in 1993 saw Jones claim a unanimous points decision victory and the vacant IBF middleweight title and there's been continuous clamour for the two legends to meet once again.
But Jones said: "He is constantly talking about fighting me but that won't make the fight happen. I've already beaten him once. Why would I want to fight him again?
"He has been saying he wants to fight me for the last five years but nothing has been done about it. I do what I do. I work my own career and will do what I want to do."
The 39-year-old won his five world titles in four different weight classes throughout a glittering career but refused to brand himself greater than Hopkins.
"He is great at middleweight I am great all-round fighter," Jones added. "He got more middleweight defences than anyone living right now while I've got the middleweight and heavyweight titles which no other fighter living right now has. You tell me, who is the greater?"
Even so Jones believes he's far more crowd pleasing than the middleweight king and is confident more boxing fans would rather pay to see him perform.
He said: "I am an entertainer. People like to watch me fight. If I'd fought Kelly Pavlik two weeks ago It would have been a pay-per-view fight and in twice as many homes.
"With Hopkins and Pavlik you were going to get a regular old fight. Bernard looked good and shut him out but anyone can do that. Who can go out and entertain while they shut someone out? Only Roy Jones Jr.
"That's why Roy Jones Jr v Joe Calzaghe is pay-per-view and Bernard Hopkins v Joe Calzaghe wasn't. I will give people something to talk about the next day."
Calzaghe (45-0, KO 32) edged out Hopkins via a split decision in April this year but Jones thinks the unbeaten Welshman has to raise his game during the "Battle of the Superpowers" at Madison Square Garden.
He said: "Joe took Hopkins lightly, he wasn't expecting any trouble from Hopkins. He knows he has to train harder for Roy Jones Jr.
"You don't take Bernard as seriously as you do me. He will be at the top of his game against me. He sees me as a deadly challenge and will be on his A game."
Speaking ahead of his huge showdown with Joe Calzaghe in New York on November 8, the five-time world champion dismissed claims his legacy would be incomplete without a rematch against The Executioner.
Their previous encounter way back in 1993 saw Jones claim a unanimous points decision victory and the vacant IBF middleweight title and there's been continuous clamour for the two legends to meet once again.
But Jones said: "He is constantly talking about fighting me but that won't make the fight happen. I've already beaten him once. Why would I want to fight him again?
"He has been saying he wants to fight me for the last five years but nothing has been done about it. I do what I do. I work my own career and will do what I want to do."
The 39-year-old won his five world titles in four different weight classes throughout a glittering career but refused to brand himself greater than Hopkins.
"He is great at middleweight I am great all-round fighter," Jones added. "He got more middleweight defences than anyone living right now while I've got the middleweight and heavyweight titles which no other fighter living right now has. You tell me, who is the greater?"
Even so Jones believes he's far more crowd pleasing than the middleweight king and is confident more boxing fans would rather pay to see him perform.
He said: "I am an entertainer. People like to watch me fight. If I'd fought Kelly Pavlik two weeks ago It would have been a pay-per-view fight and in twice as many homes.
"With Hopkins and Pavlik you were going to get a regular old fight. Bernard looked good and shut him out but anyone can do that. Who can go out and entertain while they shut someone out? Only Roy Jones Jr.
"That's why Roy Jones Jr v Joe Calzaghe is pay-per-view and Bernard Hopkins v Joe Calzaghe wasn't. I will give people something to talk about the next day."
Calzaghe (45-0, KO 32) edged out Hopkins via a split decision in April this year but Jones thinks the unbeaten Welshman has to raise his game during the "Battle of the Superpowers" at Madison Square Garden.
He said: "Joe took Hopkins lightly, he wasn't expecting any trouble from Hopkins. He knows he has to train harder for Roy Jones Jr.
"You don't take Bernard as seriously as you do me. He will be at the top of his game against me. He sees me as a deadly challenge and will be on his A game."