Before calling it a day: Roy Jones braces for ring showdown with Mike Tyson

CEBU, Philippines — Still strong and fighting at 51 years old, American ring legend Roy Levesta Jones Jr. has made some revelations on the special aspects of his life that impacted his boxing journey and along the way helped him traverse his long and meandering road toward greatness.

In an exclusive online interview with The Freeman, the four-division world champion said that aside from his father and namesake Roy Jones Sr., a Vietnam war veteran who was awarded with a Bronze Star for valor for rescuing another soldier, the late Muhammad Ali, widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, also had a profound influence in his fistic career.

Jones then made special mention of James Toney and John Ruiz who gave him the toughest, most memorable battles in his illustrious pro career that began in 1989.

Billed as "The Uncivil War" on November 18, 1994 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Jones was fighting as underdog for the first time in his career against Toney, the unbeaten IBF super middleweight champion at that time.

But utilizing his ring craftsmanship on all range - remarkable hand speed, quickness and athleticism, Jones delivered a dominant performance,  scoring a flash knockdown in round three, then methodically bulldozed his way to a lopsided unanimous decision victory over 12 rounds against Toney. The three judges scored 117-110, 119-108, 118-109 all for Jones.

Nine years later, Jones was 33 pounds lighter than John Ruiz when he moved up in weight just to challenge the latter for the WBA heavyweight crown on March 1, 2003 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. Jones officially weighed in at 193 lbs while Ruiz hit the scales at 226 lbs.

Again, Jones overcame the overwhelming odds to get past Ruiz via unanimous verdict with the scores of 116-112, 118-110 and 117-111 to make history as the first former middleweight titlist to snatch a heavyweight belt in 106 years.

Revered as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the chronicles of prizefighting, Jones was a multiple world champion in four different weight divisions. He became the undisputed light heavyweight champion by unifying the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles in 1999.

Of all his countless accomplishments that include a world record for the most wins in unified light heavyweight title bouts with twelve, there are two distinct feats that Jones treasured most.

"I'm the only human to ever turn pro as a junior middleweight and become a heavyweight champ," said Jones on his enduring legacy.

Jones, who is also a boxing commentator, rapper, and actor who played himself in at least five Hollywood films (The Devil's Advocate in 1997, the Wayan Brothers in 1999, Grudge Match in 2013, Southpaw in 2015, and Creed II in 2018), hit the headlines anew just a few days ago.

Last Friday, 'Iron'  Mike Tyson, the former world heavyweight champ who retired in 2005, announced on his Legends Only League website that he will make a comeback at age 54 against Jones in an eight-round exhibition bout set for September 12 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California just a few minutes drive from Los Angeles.

Now in their 50s, Jones said he decided to accept the offer to slug it out with Tyson because it's a fight he really longed for when he reigned as the world heavyweight king 17 years ago.

"Because of his legendary status, he was the only other heavyweight that I wanted to fight back then," said

Jones, who described Tyson as an "exciting, action packed and amazingly explosive" ring gladiator.

"I love this fight. It’s a true blessing from above," added the future Hall of Famer who was born in Pensacola, Florida. He is now an American-Russian having been granted Russian citizenship in September 2015, which he personally requested during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin three weeks prior in Sevastopol, Crimea.

Known as "Captain Hook" for his ability to fire four or five hooks in rapid succession from different angles, Jones refused to make any predictions but he is sure of coming out the victor against Tyson. "Nah, but I’m not losing," he said.

Tyson, who flattened Trevor Berick in the second round to become the youngest heavyweight champion in history at 20 years and four months in 1986, has compiled a 50-6 win-loss record spiked with 44 knockouts, while Jones holds a 66-9 mark with 47KOs.

But unlike Tyson who hasn't fought since losing to Kevin McBride on June 11, 2005 at the MCI Center in Washington D.C., Jones saw action consistently into his 50s.

Jones endured a bicep injury to prevail over Scott Sigmon by decision to claim the World Boxing Union (German version) cruiserweight crown in his previous match on February 8, 2018 at the Pensacola Civic Center in Florida.

When pressed on the secret of his longevity in the rough, rugged and oftentimes brutal sport of boxing, Jones replied:"God is always my answer and my everything."

Jones, the Fighter of the Decade for the 1990s by the Boxing Writers Association of America, has hinted though that the Tyson showdown will be his last before calling it a day.

"This will more than likely be it for Team Jones Jr. and thanks to all that supported me," ended Jones.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Freeman's online interview with Roy Jones Jr. was made possible through the help of Cebuano businessman Clarence "Allen Scar" Romoff, a close friend of the boxing legend. Jones Jr. is a family of Muscletonebullys USA while Romoff is the franchisee for Muscletonebullys Philippines. An organization of American Bully lovers around the globe with a new international facility in Florida, Muscletonebullys Worlwide is headed by its CEO Bashar Daoud.