One of the greatest fighters to ever put on gloves returns from a five-year layoff to face an MMA fighter taking part in his first professional boxing match Roy Jones Jr. and Anthony Pettis compete in a unique combat sports event on April 1.
The fight, part of Jorge Masvidal’s Gambred Boxing 4, will take place at the Fiserv Forum in Wisconsin.
Pettis is a former WEC and UFC lightweight titleholder. Going 11-9 with the UFC, Pettis joined the PFL in 2021. He is 1-4 for the tournament-ran promotion and last fought in August 2022. He recently decided to skip the tournament format of the PFL and pursue PPV-level bouts.
Although the weight gained to get to his fight is unlike anything he is used to (going from 146-155 to roughly 200 pounds), Pettis is not backing down from Jones.
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“He’s dangerous,” Pettis said on The MMA Hour. “Especially with how much knowledge he has in boxing. It’s eight rounds, it’s something I’ve never done before. There’s a reason why he agreed to this fight.
“I’m 36, I’m just coming out of my prime in mixed martial arts, so it’s a dangerous fight for him to agree to, but I’m a 170-pounder. There’s a lot of favors in his position, so I’ve got to work for this one. This is a real fight for me, and I plan on trying to win this fight.”
Jones (66-9, 47 KOs) has won world titles at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. The Pensacola native beat the likes of Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Virgil Hill, Antonio Tarver, and John Ruiz, ending his career on a four-fight win streak. He also faced Mike Tyson in a non-scored exhibition bout in 2020
Gambred Boxing 4 will host several entertaining boxing bouts featuring MMA fighters. Here is a look into the entire main card of Jones vs. Pettis.
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Jose Aldo vs. Jeremy Stephens
- Division/Weight: Welterweight
- Aldo MMA record: 31-8
- Stephens MMA record: 29-21, one no-contest
- Belts at stake: N/A
One of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, Jose Aldo steps inside a boxing ring for the second time in his career to face a familiar foe in Jeremy Stephens. Aldo (31-8) made his pro debut in 2004, and after suffering the first loss of his career in his eighth fight, went on an impressive 18-fight win streak, becoming WEC and UFC Featherweight Champion in the process. Defending the UFC belt seven times, his streak ended in thirteen seconds in 2015 against Conor McGregor.
Since that loss, Aldo has gone 6-6 in his last 12 fights. He retired in September 2022, and in February won his boxing debut against Emmanuel Zambrano via unanimous decision. Aldo will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.
Stephens (29-21, one no-contest) was 13-2 when he joined the UFC in 2007. From UFC 71 to July 2021, Stephens went 15-18 with one no-contest and is known as the guy Conor McGregor dismissed at a press conference. Joining the PFL, Stephens has gone 1-2 and is 1-7 (1 NC) in his last nine fights. He faced Aldo in 2018, losing via TKO in the first round.
Vitor Belfort vs. Ronaldo Souza
- Division/Weight: Heavyweight
- Belfort MMA record: 26-14, one no-contest
- Souza MMA record: 26-10, one no-contest
- Belts at stake: N/A
Two Jiu-Jitsu specialists, Vitor Belfort and Ronaldo Souza, face off in another rematch. Belfort (26-14, one no-contest) has been competing competitively since 1996, winning the UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament in 1997. He defeated Randy Couture for the UFC light heavyweight title in 2004 and bounced around between that division and middleweight.
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Between stints at Strikeforce and PRIDE, Belfort has beaten the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Couture, Rich Franklin, Michael Bisping, and Dan Henderson. Retiring in 2018, Belfort took out Evander Holyfield in the first round of an exhibition fight in September 2021. This will be his second pro boxing fight, as he beat Josemario Neves in 2006.
A multi-time gold medalist in Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling, Souza (26-10, one no-contest) is a former DREAM and Strikeforce middleweight champion. Joining the UFC in 2013, Souza retired following his last fight in May 2021 to focus on BJJ competitions and boxing. At UFC 198 in 2016, he defeated Belfort via TKO.
Pearl Gonzalez vs. Gina Mazany
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Gonzalez MMA record: 10-5
- Mazany MMA record: 8-6
- Belts at stake: N/A
Pearl Gonzalez vs. Gina Mazany is also on the card. Gonzalez (10-5) turned pro in 2010 and has fought for Xtreme Fighting Championships, the UFC, and Invicta. Last competing in 2020, Gonzalez is 1-1 in bare-knuckle competition and won two boxing bouts in 2022. Her last bout was a TKO win against Ivana Coleman in November.
Mazany (8-6) is a former Alaska Fight Championship bantamweight champion and was 3-6 in the UFC. Her last fight was a win against Elizabeth Schroder in December.
Devin Cushing vs. Damian David Marchiano
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Crushing record: 12-0
- Machiano record: 18-11-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Devin Cushing and Damian David Marchiano are the only other fighters with legitimate boxing experience on the card.
Crushing (12-0) turned pro in 2016 and has won all but two fights via knockout. Competing three times in 2022, Crushing's last bout was a unanimous decision win over Aldimar Silva in November.
Marchiano (18-11-1) turned pro in 2001 and is a former bantamweight title contender. On a four-fight losing streak, the 42-year-old last fought in July, losing against Marqus Bates via TKO.
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When is Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anthony Pettis?
- Date: Saturday: April 1 | Sunday, April 2
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET | 12 a.m. GMT | 11 a.m. AEDT
- Main event: 11:30 p.m. ET | 3:30 a.m. GMT | 2:30 p.m. ET (approx.)
Gamebred Boxing 4 takes place on April 1. The event starts at 8 p.m. ET | 12 a.m. GMT | 11 a.m. AEDT. Jones and Pettis should make their way to the ring around 11:30 p.m. ET | 3:30 a.m. GMT | 2:30 p.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
How to watch Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anthony Pettis
| Country | Date | Channel + Live Stream (main card) |
| United States/ Canada | Sat. April 1 | UFC Fight Pass |
| United Kingdom | Sun. April 2 | TBA |
| Australia | Sun. April 2 | TBA |
Gamebred Boxing 4 will air on UFC Fight Pass.
Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anthony Pettis PPV price: How much does Gamebred Boxing 4 cost?
$49.99
The event will cost $49.99 on PPV, traditional cable and satellite providers, and digitally through multiple outlets.