Roy Jones Jr called out Zuffa Boxing and wants to get to the bottom of the charades he feels they’re playing.
Roy Jones Jr believes the sport of Boxing is in jeopardy with Zuffa Boxing with a TKO-backed bill that would allow the operation of Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs), which would change how boxing operates in America today, as under the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.
UBOs would be able to introduce their own titles instead of sanctioning bodies. Supporters of the bill highlight positive aspects such as minimum pay per round, while opponents, such as Jones Jr., see UBOs creating a monopoly in the sport by skirting around the protections implemented by the original Ali Act.
“First of all, if you made the Muhammad Ali Act to save or look out for the boxers, why would you go change it for a promoter?” Jones Jr. told Fight Hub TV. “You basically change it back saying, ‘OK, you put these security bars on the building so no one can break in, but since he lives in the neighborhood now and we know he likes to break in stores, we’ll give him the key to it and change it so he can get in. Come on, bro? Really?
“… If it was that good, all the ex-UFC fighters would be talking about it, and they would be saying good things about it. They don’t. So, if you didn’t do good by your own people, what makes me think you’ll do good by mine?”
“Look at most of the fighters that retire from the UFC,” Jones Jr. said. “Even the ones that come to boxing to make their real payday. They built up a name in UFC, but they couldn’t make a payday. So, you want me to bring that same ol’ to boxing? Why would I do that? So, I can’t accept it. I’m sorry. I’m not the guy that says, ‘Oh, you evil.’ I’m not gonna say all that, but I can’t accept that. My sport gives better payout to your people than your sport did, then why would I want you change my sport? It just don’t make sense.”
“It probably is (going to pass), but it’s gonna ruin boxing, though,” Jones Jr. said. “It’s going to ruin boxing, totally. … They’re going to be basically slaves. They’re going to be owned sheep. You don’t get to decide what you wear no more, you don’t get to decide who you are no more, you have no identity. You’re basically a sheep that does what your master says do, and that’s wrong – but if that’s what they want, it’s on them. I’m through with boxing, thank God, because if it was me, I would have moved out the country.
“… They’re going to determine if you become that superstar. Not your skills, not your ability, not your talent. They gonna determine who becomes who. Same as UFC. They determine who becomes who. It’s not about talent and winning no more, it’s about who they want there. That’s what they’re trying to do to boxing. I’m Sorry, that’s not right, I don’t care who you are.”
Recently, it was reported that Shakur Stevenson would be making the move to Zuffa Boxing in the future.
h/t to MMA Junkie for the transcription.
