
Lebedev Eyes Second Title Chance With Roy Jones Win
Denis Lebedev believes victory over Roy Jones Junior on Saturday night in Russia will pave the way to another world title shot.
Roy Jones Jr.: record, next fight and profile →

Denis Lebedev believes victory over Roy Jones Junior on Saturday night in Russia will pave the way to another world title shot.

Ring legend and former undisputed world champion Roy Jones Jr. (54-7, 41 KOs) concluded his pre-fight routine with an open workout at Atrium place in Moscow, Russia. Assisting the great American were (among others) his long-time chief coach Alton Merkerson and former undisputed lightweight titlist Nate Campbell (33-8-1, 25 KOs), who is fighting on the same card against Uzbek Sherzod Nazarov (12-4, 10 KOs). Jones greeted his fans with some rap and a bit of showboating.

Roy Jones Jr. and Denis Lebedev held a press conference in Moscow, Russia, only a few days before facing each other in the non-title fight in the cruiserweight division. There was a lot of tension, some words exchanged and some big names in attendance.

MOSCOW, Russia – In anticipation of his upcoming bout on May 21, 2011 in Moscow, Russia and in response to numerous requests from his Russian boxing fans, legendary eight-time world boxing champion and future hall of famer Roy Jones Jr. has released his latest single, сердце чемпиона (Heart of a Champion). “When I came to Moscow for our promotional tour last month, everybody kept asking me if I was going to write a song for the fight,” Jones Jr. said. “I didn’t realize how many Russian fans I had, and it really moved me and inspired me to write this song. I hope they like it.”

Huge Moscow undercard for the May 21st “Battle of two Empires” is slowly being formed. WBO #1 ranked cruiserweight Denis Lebedev (21-1, 16 KOs) challenges American ring legend Roy Jones Jr. (54-7, 41 KOs) in the main event of one of the hugest Russian boxing cards in recent memory, arranged by Vladimir Hryunov in association with the Square Ring promotions.

Former unified lightweight champion Nate Campbell (33-8-1, 25KOs) is not going to retire. He plans to fight on the undercard of the big Moscow event featuring a cruiserweight clash between Denis Lebedev (21-1, 16 KOs) and former four division champion Roy Jones Jr. (54-7, 41 KOs). Jones-Lebedev headline sa huge international card, promoted by Vladimir Hryunov, on May 21 at the Dynamo Arena in Krylatskoye. Campbell was last seen on the April 9 Las Vegas undercard to Erik Morales-Marcos Maidana. He lost a ten round decision to up and coming Danny Garcia. Campbell, 39, has been defeated in his last three outings. Hryunov told Alexander Pavlov that Campbell's opponent has not been determined.

WBO #1 cruiserweight Denis Lebedev (21-1, 16 KOs) continues to train very hard for his upcoming clash with former four division champion Roy Jones Jr. (54-7, 41 KOs). Former junior welterweight king and hall of fame legend, Kostya Tszyu, is helping train Lebedev. The contest will headline a huge international card, promoted by Vladimir Hryunov, on May 21 at “Dynamo” arena in Krylatskoye, Moscow, Russia. The event is called “Battle of Two Empires.” Photos by Andrey Bazdrev (PBFR)

Preparations are fully under way for the upcoming showdown, bannered the “Battle of Two Empires”, which is going to match WBO #1 cruiserweight Denis Lebedev (21-1, 16 KOs) in by far the soundest fight of his career against aging ring legend Roy Jones Jr. (54-7, 41 KOs). The contest will headline a huge international card, promoted by Vladimir Hryunov, on May 21 at “Dynamo” arena in Krylatskoye, Moscow, Russia; several more notables – including Vyacheslav Glazkov, Alexander Bakhtin, Ismayl Syllakh and Maxim Vlasov – taking their parts in a solid undercard.

On May 21 in Moscow, Russia, ring legend Roy Jones (54-7, 41 KOs) collides with WBO #1 cruiserweight Denis Lebedev (21-1, 16 KOs) in a fight which is presently advertised as no other than the “Battle of Two Empires”. The fight card, which will also see heavyweight promise Vyacheslav Glazkov (9-0, 6 KOs), bantamweight hope Alexander Bakhtin (26-0, 11 KOs), rising light heavyweight Ismayl Syllakh (15-0, 12 KOs), and a heated clash between Maxim Vlasov (19-1, 10 KOs) and James McGirt Jr. (22-3-1, 11 KOs) is expected to be a sellout.

According to Vladimir Hyrunov, manager of top cruiserweight Denis Lebedev, says the very respected Russian judge Eugene Gorstkov will be will be involved in the scoring when Lebedev faces former four division champion Roy Jones Jr. on May 21 in Moscow. Hyrunov says both sides have agreed to Gorstkov. The two other judges, while unknown at the moment, are going to come from the United States and England. Lebedev is the big favorite to win. Hyrunov says they are taking no chances in the fight.