UFC star Israel Adesanya set to swap MMA for boxing to become a ringside analyst for Mike Tyson’s much-anticipated comeback bout with Roy Jones Jr this weekend
- Israel Adesanya has been signed up as a ringside analyst for this Saturday’s exhibition fight between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr
- UFC middleweight champion made the announcement on his Twitter account
- Adesanya, 31, has previously said that moving into boxing is ‘a step backwards’
MMA star Israel Adesanya has been snapped up as a ringside analyst for this weekend’s Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr boxing showdown.
Tyson, 54, and Jones, 51, will meet in an eight-round exhibition bout in Los Angeles this Saturday night.
And UFC middleweight champion Adesanya has announced he will be offering his views on the fight on pay-per-view television.
UFC star Israel Adesanya has been signed up as a ringside analyst for this Saturday’s exhibition boxing bout between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr
The two legendary boxers will fight in a eight-round charity bout in Los Angeles this Saturday
UFC star Israel Adesanya announced he would be a ringside analyst for this Saturday’s fight
The undefeated MMA fighter, 31, has previously said that he wouldn’t move into boxing as it would represent a ‘step backwards’ for him.
Adesanya said back in February: ‘Everyone keeps saying the same thing to me. You should go into boxing after a few UFC fights.
‘Why would I limit myself to just two weapon out of my eight limbs which I can use? I feel like it’s a step backwards.’
He added: ‘There’s no need to go to boxing to make that kind of money. We can do it right here in the UFC.’
Tyson has shown off his impressive physique ahead of his return to the ring this weekend
The man nicknamed ‘The Last Stylebender’ boasts an unblemished 20-0 record in UFC and last fought in September when he defeated the previously unbeaten Paulo Costa via second round knockout at UFC 253 to defend his middleweight title.
He defeated Yoel Romero back in March in his first defence of the UFC Middleweight Championship he unified by knocking out Robert Whittaker in Melbourne just over a year ago.
But despite not wanting to make the move into boxing, clearly Adesanya’s views on the sport are highly valued.
‘Ring-side analyst for this historic night,’ he posted on his Twitter account.
The 54-year-old takes on fellow great Jones Jnr (right), 51, in a controversial bout
Jones Jnr has fought into his forties and has started training the likes of Chris Eubank Jr
Adesanya this week said he is ‘confident’ his next fight inside the Octagon will be at light heavyweight against Jan Blachowicz as he bids to become a two-weight champion.
UFC president Dana White recently said he expects Adesanya to move up to 205 pounds to make the step up.
White himself reacted with bemusement earlier this week after learning there would be no knockouts in the Tyson-Jones Jr bout.
Dana White reacts after finding out there would be no knockouts in Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr
UFC chief White cut a bemused figure when discovering that knockouts have been banned
‘There’s no knockouts?’ White said when quizzed by journalists after UFC 255 on Saturday. ‘They’re not allowed to knock each other out? How do you enforce that?
‘I’d like to bet that doesn’t happen. Can you bet on that?! Oh s***! You can’t even bet on this fight?
‘I did not know that. I don’t even know what to say to that.’