Roy Jones Jr.: ‘Yep’ to Hopkins fight

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Former world light-heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr. confirmed he’ll be fighting Bernard Hopkins early next year. The fight’s signing was first reported by ESPN.com

Jones defeated Hopkins by decision in 1993. He has responded to a November 2008 loss to unbeaten Joe Calzaghe with two victories and has another fight scheduled in December.

Jones will be 41 by the time the fight happens, and Hopkins will be 45.

Hopkins discussed the fight with The Times earlier this week, saying he deserved a bigger split of the purse because of a more impressive career and last year’s emphatic victory over the younger world middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik.

Jones, too, is itching to quiet the ever-talkative Hopkins, boasting he’s in supreme shape. He was en route to Australia on Saturday but told his publicist when asked if Hopkins was a done deal: ‘Yep.’

--Lance Pugmire