CanadaHeadline NewsWild Geese

Roy Jones Jr to fight bareknuckle champion Bobby Gunn next year

Roy Jones Jr [64(46)-9(5)] has chosen to continue his twenty seven-year boxing career and will fight next year against Irish-Canadian slugger Bobby Gunn [21(18)-6(4)-1].

The veteran pair will face off on a David Feldman Promotions at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday February 17th over twelve three-minute, gloved, rounds.

Jones, 48 next month, is a former four-weight world champion and will take on Gunn for the lightly-regarded vacant WBF cruiserweight title. While world title honours eluded him, Gunn, who is 43 later this month, enjoyed a successful career in the ring, challenging for World titles twice against Enzo Maccarinelli and Tomas Adamek. It will be the ‘The Celtic Warrior’s’ first bout since 2013, but he has since then enjoyed success on the somewhat regulated American bareknuckle scene.

Jones Jr described how “I know Bobby Gunn is coming to bring it. He’s a hard-nose, tough fighter that comes right at you, but I’m going to show him why I’m one of the best that ever did it and he doesn’t belong in the ring with me.”

Gunn, who reputedly has a bareknuckle record of 72(72)-0, said that “It’s an honor to share the ring with a legend like Roy Jones. I’ve been chasing him for a few years now, and on February 17th, I will catch him.”

The two had initially been due to fight in December 2013, but the bout would fall through.

The pay-per-view fight will be streamed live online, with details to be confirmed soon.

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

x