Roy Jones Wants Peter Manfredo

Jones/Manfredo bout in motion for January on Showtime

According to ESPN.com, former pound-for-pound king Roy Jones Jr. has decided that his next bout will be against Peter “Pride of Providence” Manfredo, who so handily destroyed hometown rival Joey Spina Saturday night, and whose Contender pedigree appeals to Jones and the marketing objectives of his eternal farewell tour to boxing.

Although nothing is yet in writing, the fight could take place as early as January 20 and Showtime, with an eye on the bottom line, rather than on boxing’s longevity/integrity, has expressed interest in broadcasting the bout.

The Pensacola New Journal reports that the fight card is being pitched as a sort of champions vs. contenders show with Jones-Manfredo as the headliner with a co-feature pitting former two-time junior middleweight champ Fernando Vargas vs. Sergio Mora, aka The Latin Snake, the winner of the first season of The Contender.

Jim Thomas, Jones’ personal advisor, reported that should Jones beat Manfredo, he would seek would a showdown with light heavyweight titleholder Clinton Woods.

At least RJJ isn’t fighting a four-round exhibition with headgear against a former sparring partner in Youngstown, Ohio not yet, anyway but a retread by any other name is still a retread, even without a decorative Maori tattoo covering half his face.