Roy Jones Jr On Fighting Wilder, Fury And Joshua: 'They're Not Skillful Enough'

Returning boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. predicted that Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will not match well against him inside the ring, claiming they're "not skillful enough."

During his prime, Jones was known for his swift combinations and ability to make his opponents miss. He has managed to maintain almost the same pacing and mental skills throughout his lengthy career, making him one of the sport’s all-time greats.

The 51-year-old recently spoke to FightHype.com to talk about the current heavyweight division. When asked how Wilder, Fury and Joshua would fare against him, Jones didn’t predict any specific outcome. However, he said that all three of them will find it difficult to tag him inside the ring because they lack the mental skills he possesses.

“They’re not skillful enough. They need more skills,” Jones said of Wilder, Fury and Joshua.

Jones went on to assess all three heavyweight boxing stars, noting that Fury may be the most skillful of them all but doesn’t have the power to knock his opponents out. Wilder, on the other hand, has a powerful right hand but doesn’t have anything else to offer.

“[Fury] got more skills than the rest of them got. But he lacked the power. He’s smart. He’s a very smart fighter but at 6’9”, you have to be a power puncher to survive cause you’re being a target,” Jones commented.

“Just like Mike Tyson, if you don’t watch ‘em, they’ll hit you with that right hand, you gon’ have a problem. Other than that though, you can deal with [Wilder] him too,” he added.

As for Joshua, Jones said, “He’s a very athletic guy, he’s got power in both hands.” He added, however, that AJ doesn’t have the ring knowledge that he has.

Despite officially calling it a career in 2018, the former cruiserweight and light heavyweight champ has been occasionally linked to a possible return. In October last year, Jones and his former nemesis, Bernard Hopkins, “verbally agreed” to fight in what could have become an epic return for both legendary fighters.

The fight against Hopkins did not progress. But on July 23, Jones made his boxing return official after he agreed to face another resurgent boxing legend, Mike Tyson, in an eight-round exhibition fight.

Tyson vs. Jones is set to happen on Sept. 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

Andy Foster, the executive director of the California State Athletic Commission, told Yahoo Sports that despite the fight being an exhibition, Tyson and Jones will not be wearing headgear. However, he revealed that both boxers will be wearing larger-than-normal gloves.