Jon Jones Believes 2 Years Spent Preparing for Boxing and He Could Compete with the Best in the World

Jon Jones isn’t getting ready to crossover to boxing like Conor McGregor but he knows if he dedicated himself to that sport, he could be one of the best in the world.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion is currently preparing for his highly anticipated return to the Octagon where he faces Alexander Gustafsson in the main event at UFC 232 on Dec. 29.

These days just about everybody gets asked about the potential to crossover to boxing, especially after McGregor reportedly earned $100 million for less than 30 minutes spent in the ring with Floyd Mayweather last year.

While McGregor rather loudly proclaimed how he would beat Mayweather with no prior boxing experience, Jones is much more realistic when the subject of a potential fight against heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was brought up to him.

“I would imagine he would have the upper hand big time,” Jones told the Jackson-Wink podcast when asked about a fight against Joshua. “He’s spent so much time throwing hands and that’s his passion.”

Obviously, Jones isn’t even contemplating a move to boxing right now — if ever — but he also understands the attraction to going to that sport and earning a massive payday.

Over the past year since he’s been out of action, Jones has spent a lot of time cleaning up his boxing and adding new weapons to his arsenal to prepare for his return to the UFC.

Jones knows deep down that if he truly dedicated himself to the sport full time, he could become a world class boxer but that doesn’t mean he’s planning on making the move.

“When I started doing MMA, I found myself in the UFC about nine months after my first practice so I’m aware that I have a mind for fighting,” Jones said. “I have a lot of faith and confidence in myself.

“I believe that if I were to hire the right people to be around me, that’s maybe four boxing coaches. That’s what the guys at the highest levels [have]. Hire guys to come in here and we spend two years focusing on boxing and only boxing, I believe I’d be able to compete with the best in the world.”

Jones also stated that the paychecks in boxing are ‘ridiculous’ so you can never say never about what might happen in the future.

For now, Jones is solely focused on getting back his light heavyweight title and reclaiming his throne as the best pound-for-pound fighter in all of mixed martial arts.

That journey will start at UFC 232 when he faces Gustafsson in the main event.