Jon Jones believes “people want to see” him fight Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder

[WarVeteranO01]

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was recently handed a 15-month suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). This suspension is retroactive to a July, 2017 failed drug test, which means Jones could fight again as soon as early November.

Ahead of his anticipated comeback, Jon Jones seems to have a wealth of options available in the UFC light heavyweight division, from his former opponent Alexander Gustafsson to his arch rival Daniel Cormier. Yet Jones is looking far beyond the division he once ruled.

Speaking to RT Sport this week, the former champion divulged that he’s interested in heavyweight showdowns with UFC stars like Cain Velasquez and Francis Ngannou. In fact, he also mentioned potential battles with heavyweight boxers Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. Jones believes these are the kinds of fights the fans want to see him in.




“I’m kind of in this space now where I feel like I don’t really have things to prove in the cage,” Jon Jones said ( via The Mac Life). “I just knocked out Daniel Cormier in my last fight, and some people consider him to be the best fighter that ever lived, so I don’t really feel like I have that much to prove, as far as being a light heavyweight champion and defending that belt.

“Right now my mindset is more about making money, even those big fights, you know, I watched Conor McGregor fight Floyd Mayweather, and it was high risk, high reward,” Jon Jones continued. “There’s a saying, ‘scared money don’t make money’. I gotta be brave when I get back in the game, and start challenging guys that I could possibly lose to, because that’s what people want to see.

“They want to see Jones versus Velasquez, they want to see Jones versus Ngannou, that’s what people want to see, and that’s where my mindset is – Jones versus Anthony Joshua, or Deontay Wilder, you know, that’s what people want to see.”

Would you be interested in seeing Jon Jones fight heavyweight stars like Anthony Joshua, Francis Ngannou, Cain Velasquez and Deontay Wilder?

https://www.bjpenn.com/mma-news/jon-...eontay-wilder/

[Eff Pandas]

Would you be interested in seeing Jon Jones fight heavyweight stars like Anthony Joshua, Francis Ngannou, Cain Velasquez and Deontay Wilder?

I have no interest in seeing Jones box ANYONE. I don't think he's even THAT good a boxer. His standup best weapon seems to be his elbows to me. And his kicking second. He even has a bit of a style where he uses leg kicks as a sorta kinda jab if you will which is unique to MMA. But I don't think it translates into boxing well nor do I think he'd have much of a chance vs any top ten HW let alone Joshua or Wilder.

Jones hasn't even really transcended MMA enough that a boxer vs MMA fight makes sense. I think you need to be the biggest name in the game or among them to be that. And Jones hasn't even been active enough to be the face of MMA or among the faces of MMA with 4 fights in the last 5 years. If he can restore his rep than maybe it'll be something worth revisiting in the future but I have zero faith he won't be suspended for life, in prison or dead within the next 12 months so I wouldn't bet on he improves his position with that.

I do have an interest in seeing Jones at HW. Not sure it'd be against Ngannou (who I was super up on at one point, but who's stock has dropped drastically with his title shot & more so with his last non-fight weird performance) or Cain (who's fought 2 times in the last 5 yrs).

I wouldn't mind seeing Jones vs Lesnar in a freak show fight. Or Jones vs Miocic. Or Jones vs DC III at HW. Or Jones vs Gustafsson II at LHW which is what seems to be likely for his next fight.

[Chrismart]

Jones Vs HW in MMA. Sure, sign me up.

Jones Vs HWs in a boxing ring. Hell no.

[OctoberRed]

Ill pay to see either fight!

[SAINTSTEVE]

He should prove he can beat someone like Tarver first. See if he can beat Shannon Briggs.

[Willy Wanker]

Jones is not a good boxer, even in MMA.

But I wouldn't mind seeing Wilder take his head offf in a boxing ring though. Jones will pop positive right after anyways.

['b']

Jones Vs HW in MMA. Sure, sign me up.

Jones Vs HWs in a boxing ring. Hell no.

Agreed, this would be a 1 round KO in boxing. The lighter weight MMA fighters have an easier time if they have a striking / boxing pedigree like Mcgregor as there is less chance of being KOd, but AJ and Wilder would put him to sleep and have no respect for his power.

Conor had the size advantage over Mayweather.
Jones is at a size disadvantage vs AJ/Wilder.

Conor has great boxing skills/experience for an MMA fighter.
Jones does not have the same skills in pure boxing or amateur boxing experience.

Conor has very good punch power for his weight.
Jones does not.

Wilder would have zero respect - it goes much the same as Stiverne II.
AJ does whatever he wants - he can take his time if he wants. Better boxer, hits like a truck too.

In MMA this could be very interesting. Wilder is athletic and if he can connect Jones goes lights out - AJ much the same minus some of the athleticism.