Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anthony Pettis is scheduled for eight rounds in the light heavyweight division and is the main event of the Gamebred Boxing 4 card taking place this weekend at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
It’s boxing ala freak show as the 54-year-old Jones faces off against former MMA standout Pettis in a fight too strange to miss out on. Boxing odds have Jones Jr. listed a -330 favorite, while Pettis comes back as a +245 underdog in his professional debut.
I break it all down in our Jones vs. Pettis free betting picks below.
Roy Jones Jr. vs Anthony Pettis odds
| Method of victory | Roy Jones Jr. | Anthony Pettis |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -330 | +245 |
| Win by KO/TKO | OTB | OTB |
| Win by points or decision | OTB | OTB |
| Draw | OTB | OTB |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of March 29, 2023
Roy Jones Jr. vs Anthony Pettis betting predictions
Picks made on March 29. Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Roy Jones Jr. vs Anthony Pettis betting preview
Once upon a time, Jones Jr. had designs of a boxing match with MMA legend Anderson Silva, and the fight not happening was one of the great regrets of his legendary career. The former four-division champion gets to make up for it in a way, facing off against Pettis under boxing rules.
Pettis is a former UFC and WEC lightweight champion but spent a portion of his career at 170 pounds. A ferocious striker known for his kicks and tendency to brawl, Pettis saw his career hit the skids after losing the UFC lightweight title in 2014.
It’s been a long, drawn-out fall from grace for him. His UFC run ended in 2020 and hasn’t found much luck in the PFL circuit afterward.
While Pettis doesn’t have pro boxing experience, he earned his check as a striker and still displays a solid chin. He’ll also come into the fight the younger fighter by 18 years. Physically, Pettis is smaller than Jones, but he should have more energy coming from a relaxed camp where making the light heavyweight limit of 175 shouldn’t be hard at all.
There used to be a time with Jones was called Superman, with many believing he was the greatest talent the sport had ever seen. His otherworldly reflexes coupled with his incredible power and combination punching carried Jones to accomplishments that hadn’t been seen in over a century.
However, the back nine of Jones’ career was hard to watch as his reflexes and speed faded away, exposing a glass jaw and a classic case of a fighter overstaying his welcome in the sport.
Jones has forgotten more about boxing than Pettis can hope to forget. How he’ll do that at 54 years old in a professional boxing fight is yet to be seen.
Though Jones officially retired six years ago, he did take place in an exhibition fight with Mike Tyson in 2020. For what it’s worth, Jones still takes care of himself and is a trainer for several promising fighters.
The lure of another chance in the spotlight is just too much for Jones to ignore. For Pettis, his career is drying up, and all avenues for competition are narrowing by the month. This fight does venture into freakshow territory, but it’ll be the talk of the town come Monday morning.
Roy Jones Jr. vs Anthony Pettis boxing prediction and best bet
Prediction: Pettis ML
When Jones was on the downside of his career, his chin vanished and so did his mobility. There's no way he’ll have somehow found it now that he’s pushing 50. Pettis is going to have a hometown crowd behind him, and while he's also slowing down, he shouldn’t lose here.
This is probably the only version of Jones that Pettis can beat. Their size difference is negligible, and the fight should only last as long as Pettis or the referee wants it to. When Jones starts absorbing shots, he’ll have to show something in an instant unless he wants to get stopped in the first round.
Prediction: Pettis moneyline (+245 at DraftKings)
Best Bet: Pettis ML
As great as Jones was, he’s been a shot fighter for a long time. Being away from active competition — Tyson exhibition aside — isn’t going to help him here. With Pettis still competing, albeit in a diminished state, he isn’t going to allow himself to look bad against a 54-year-old.
With no other odds at this time, we’ll defer to the moneyline as our pick of the fight.
Prediction: Pettis moneyline (+245 at DraftKings)
