PENSACOLA, Fla. (December 3, 2013) – Square Ring Promotions and Hrunov Promotions announced today that Roy Jones, Jr. (56-9, 40 KO’s) would be back in the ring on December 21, 2013 in Moscow, Russia in a 12 round WBU Cruiserweight title fight against Frenchman Zine Eddine Benmakhlouf (17-3-1, 8 KO’s).
“Roy is excited to be coming back to Russia to fight, and we are very happy that we were able to put this together so quickly with our good friend and partner Vlad Hrunov,” said John Wirt, CEO of Square Ring Promotions. “We are disappointed that the fight with Bobby Gunn didn’t happen, but there were just too many loose ends, and it was taking far too long. Vlad came forward and closed the deal on Monday. We have a longstanding relationship with him and his team and knew that he could make it happen.”
“This is my early Christmas present to all Russian boxing fans,” said Vlad Hrunov. “Most Americans don’t realize how much Roy is loved here in Russia—he’s bigger than Ali or Tyson. Russian fans want to root for Roy—that’s why I picked a foreign opponent for him. December 21 is going to be a huge Christmas party and a great night of boxing.”
“I encouraged Roy to take the fight in Russia,” said McGee Wright, Jones’ longtime manager. “We have been developing the Russian market for the past couple of years and it was the perfect time for Roy to fight there again. It’s always a pleasure to visit, and we are looking forward to another RJJ classic!”
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
