ANTHONY TAYLOR says he is in talks with Roy Jones Jr for an exhibition bout on Jake Paul’s next undercard.
Taylor, 33, is a former Bellator MMA fighter but shot to recognition as one of Paul’s main sparring partners.
Jake Paul pictured with sparring partner Anthony Taylor
He has featured on the YouTuber-turned prizefighter’s last two undercards and is eyeing a hat-trick.
And after a chance meeting with Jones, 53, at a celebrity boxing event, Taylor might have found his most high-profile dance partner yet.
He told SunSport: “We talked in person and he agreed to fight me, if it’s on a pay-per-view scale like Showtime.
“So verbally we both agreed to fight each other in August, if that’s possible on the Jake Paul card.”
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Taylor was last August beaten by Tommy Fury, 22, and then suffered defeat to old rival Chris Avila, 29, in December.
But a bout with Jones is unlikely to be professionally sanctioned due to the American legend’s age, so will have to be a spectacle exhibition instead.
Taylor added: “Me and Roy talked and it would definitely be an exhibition match, because he’s older.
“We’re not sure if he’d get his medicals past but being a special exhibition, it’s more likely the fight can happen.
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“What body sanction is going to sanction that as a pro fight? Nobody. But, as a special exhibition match? Absolutely it can happen.”
Jones last fought as a pro in 2018 but he made a remarkable return in November 2020 to face Mike Tyson, 55.
The eight-round exhibition went the distance and was scored a draw, with the pair of boxing icons winning Taylor’s approval.
He said: “Roy did what he could with the time that he had.
“If he had six months to train, I’m pretty sure he would have had way more time to condition himself.
“Roy is up there in age and we can expect someone in their early 50s to be acting like their in their 20s.
“But Roy did the best he can and I was impressed. A lot of people were impressed with Mike Tyson and Roy Jones.
“Roy still has it, don’t be fooled.”
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