Boxing legend Mike Tyson wants to help UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones earn a huge payday.
Jones, a two-time champion of the 205-pound class, has been on a heated feud with UFC president Dana White after the promotion refused to give him a pay raise for a potential move to heavyweight division.
Coming off a successful title-defence against Dominick Reyes, the pound-for-pound king plans to move up to 265 pounds and face knockout artist, Francis Ngannou, in a super fight.
The UFC president claimed Jones was demanding $30 million for this fight, the same amount Deontay Wilder cashed in from his rematch with Tyson Fury in February. Jones has denied asking for such amount and launched a scathing response to White before announcing he is leaving the UFC and vacating the light heavyweight belt.
“Don’t be a f**king liar. My reputation has already taken enough hits. I don’t need this bullsh*t, Dana. I never asked for Deontay Wilder’s numbers. And how about since Deontay is making $30 million, we settle for half of that. Since you said I’m the GOAT and everything,” he wrote on Twitter.
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Jones is currently busy doing community service in Albuquerque amid the escalating protests in the United States, following George Floyd’s death.
And if Jones really wants to earn a massive paycheck, ‘Iron Mike’ said he should cross the bridge and fight him inside the squared circle.
“Listen to this, UFC is more popular than boxing, right? Higher ratings, right? But a UFC fighter will never be richer than a first-class fighter. To make a $100 million, Conor McGregor had to fight Floyd Mayweather. Jon Jones got to fight me if he wants to make some super money,” Tyson said (transcription from Essentially Sports)
Returning
The 53 year old boxing legend is currently training for his highly-anticipated return to the ring. Last month, he praised UFC star Conor McGregor for his performance against Floyd Mayweather in his boxing debut.
“He never really had a boxing match in his life, right. He went 10 rounds with the greatest fighter in the last 100 years of boxing. He went 10 rounds, scored punches on the greatest boxer in the last 100 years.”
“Did he do something? Did he accomplish something? People should look who he had the fight against and look what he did when he fought against him.”
Would like to see a crossover fight between Jones and Tyson?
(Featured Image Source: Mike Tyson/ Instagram and UFC/ Instagram)