ROY JONES JNR has said America would love Anthony Joshua but has told the world heavyweight champion to stay in the UK.
The boxing legend also advised the IBF, WBA and WBOย title holder NOT too fight Deontay Wilder until he is โat his peakโ.
Jones is a man who knows a lot about boxing having spent 30 years as a professional, winning 66 times including world titles in four different divisions, from middleweight right the way through to heavyweight.
And the 49-year-old told Punch-lines that if Joshua is filling the Principality Stadium and Wembley then it would be folly to box smaller venues in the USA.
โAnthony would be big in the States,โ said Jones, who is now a commentator with HBO.
โBut if you are making the sort of noise in the UK Joshua is then why go to the USA?
โWhere the people are coming to watch you is where you should fight.
โIf the British fans want to go to the States to see him fight then fine.
โThousands of Brits came to Vegas with Ricky Hatton when he fought Floyd Mayweather.
โBut if I had the choice of fighting in front of 5,000 in the States or 80,000 in the UK, Iโm sorry.โ
Jones, making an appearance at St Jamesโs Park in Newcastle believes Joshua should wait a โfight or twoโ before taking to the ring with Wilder. After the undefeated Watford giant added the WBO belt to his collection in March against Joseph Parker, there has been a clamour for another unification showdown with Wilder, who owns the WBC crown.
โOf course I want to see it, but not next,โ said Jones. โIโd like to see Joshua get one or two more preparation fights in.
โI see him on the incline, heโs getting better every fight but I want to see him at his peak when he fights Wilder.
โI think Wilder is kinda at his peak now and Iโd like to see both men there for when they fight.โ