RJ says he'd fight Wladimir Klitschko, discusses Hopkins rematch!

In this must read exclusive interview, former pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr informs Boxingtalkers of his plans to return to the ring in early 2007. Jones also discusses the possibility of once again fighting at heavyweight and this time RJ says he's willing to face IBF heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko. A potential rematch with light heavyweight king Bernard Hopkins also comes up. You don't want to miss what else the Pride of Pensacola, Florida had to say...THE BIGGEST NAMES IN BOXING, ONLY ON BOXINGTALK!

GL: what's good Roy? The last time we spoke you were looking to get back to back fights in during the first two Saturday's of December. Obviously that hasn't happened, what's the latest and greatest then and when can we expect you back in the ring? "The fight in Australia, I was hoping it would happen but I guess they were playing a game and the Siaca fight, the problem with that was Jermain Taylor was going to be fighting on December 9. I'm cool and I could always do my own thang, but I don't want to knockdown nobody card. I figured I could take the year off and come right back in the beginning of the year."

GL: So you're targeting an early 2007 return. Is there anything more specific you can tell us at the present time?

Roy Jones Jr: "Nah, I' don't know when, where or who yet but I will be back in the ring in early 2007."

GL: What are your goals for 2007?

Roy Jones Jr: "To get my title back."

GL: You've won quite a few, which one?

RJJ: "It don't matter one bit to me, as long as I get back one of the main ones I'm good. I want to take a light heavyweight title from somebody. I know Clinton Woods got one, I know Adamek got one and I don't care who it is I'm fighting for the title, I just want to get me one."

GL: There's been some talks of Hopkins moving up to heavyweight to fight Maskaev, but Maskaev's promoter informs me that's not going to happen. Are you even remotely interested in discussing the Hopkins rematch?

RJJ: "Not really, I respect Hopkins and I see what he's doing right now he's looking for fights he feels are good fights for him. But he could keep on doing what he's doing and I'll keep on doing what I'm doing and we'll be cool."

GL: I only brought him up because you mentioned regaining a title at light heavyweight. Although he has not championship Hopkins is considered the light heavyweight king following his victory over Antonio Tarver.

RJJ: "Yeah, but he still don't got the belt and I want to fight for a title. Of course if they come to me with an offer and they're not trying to insult me I'll fight him in a second and they already know that. Being that he beat Tarver, they're going to probably try to come at me with something crazy and I don't even want to waste my time arguing with anyone when I'm Roy Jones."

GL: You've been promotionally independent for quite some time. How flexible are you to work with another company as closely as Winky has been working with Oscar De La Hoya for example?

RJJ: "I would work with other promoters to a degree, but not that closely. (starts to laugh pretty hard)"

GL: The last time we spoke you also mentioned the Giant, WBA heavyweight champ Nikolai Valuev...

RJJ: "Yep I did and that's right down my alley. I've done business with Don King before and I would do business with him again if I hard to. I have nothing against King and we could work together to an extent, but if I talk with King it's not going to be about Adamek it's going to be to talk heavyweight."

GL: What are you walking around at now?

RJJ: 185

GL: Sounds like you're ready for 175.

RJJ: "You better believe it."

GL: Is important to you to return to HBO next year?

RJJ: "Nope."

GL: Why not?

RJJ: "Because I just do what I do and I can't satisfy everyone, I got to satisfy me."

GL: I'm sure you have to see some of the fights that they're airing and I'm sure you have to agree that having you back on HBO wouldn't be bad for boxing.

RJJ: "It wouldn't be bad for boxing, it wouldn't be bad for HBO and it wouldn't be bad for me, but at the same time you got to just roll with what you roll with. If we can work together cool, I would do it, but if not I'll just keep on doing what I do."

GL: Do you still have any bitter feelings towards HBO?

RJJ: "Not at all, I love the Lord and the Lord loves me. Everything is great and I push on."

GL: If nothing major gets solidified is there a chance Siaca gets rescheuled?

RJJ: "That's very possible and that's something we're looking at as well. But we'll have to wait and see what it's going to be."

GL: Expecting to fight twice in December is it frustrating to have to push your next fight back to early 2007?

RJJ: "No because I'm an old pro and I'm a vet and I know how this game works. After being in this sport for so many years, things can't always go your way all the time."

GL: De La Hoya-Mayweather is a done deal. Earlier this year you told me that you like Floyd because if his father trains Oscar, it's not going to matter what Oscar does, Floyd is going to win.

RJJ: "And ain't nothing changed one bit, Floyd Mayweather is going to win that fight. There's no doubt about it."

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

RJJ: "Besides the Giant there's a few other heavyweights I might want to fight, but I like to watch heavyweights. It's not a situation where I would campaign up there, but I would fight for a title against any of those big boys. I'm here and I ain't goin to nowhere, I'm just going to be me and can't nobody whoop me still."

GL: Wladimir Klitschko would be the most lucrative dangerous situation.

RJJ: "And if they came at me with that fight tomorrow, I'd jump all on it. I'm not going to campaign up there, but I'll fight anybody up there for a title."

B

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