It’s not every day you see two world champions sharing a moment outside the ring. But fans were treated to just that when former undisputed light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr. and current undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev were spotted together. The encounter comes on the heels of the highly anticipated announcement of Beterbiev’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol, set to headline a stacked card on February 22.

‘Captain Hook’ became the undisputed light heavyweight champion in 1999 after defeating Reggie Johnson at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum. On the other hand, Beterbiev got the title last October. Regardless, the two champions were seen enjoying a relaxed evening at a restaurant while engaged in a friendly game of chess. And fans seem to be loving every bit of it. 

Artur Beterbiev and Roy Jones Jr. go head-to-head outside the ring

Just hours ago, Roy Jones Jr. took to Instagram to share a clip of his recent meetup with Artur Beterbiev, capturing the two champions deeply focused on a game of chess. However, this wasn’t their first encounter by any means.

Earlier this week, on Sunday afternoon, the pair were spotted together at the 10th-anniversary celebration of Mr T’s, a popular takeaway on Great Horton Road in Bradford. The event brought together fans and locals, making it a memorable occasion for all in attendance.

Following the event, the duo even appeared in an interview with Boxing King Media, where they spoke about each other, their decorated careers, and, of course, the sport. During the interview, Beterbiev was asked about Jones’ 1994 bout against James Toney, where he taunted his opponent by putting his arm around his back. 

“I seen like many fights, I don’t know which one,” Beterbiev responded. When reminded of the specifics, Beterbiev said, “I remember this fight.” This prompted the reporter to ask whether he ever tried such a move, just for Beterbiev to claim, “No. I’m not so good boxer to do these things.”

This led the reporter to turn to Jones to ask about his thoughts on Beterbiev’s statement. Jones seemed impressed by the response, as he said, “I have a special appreciation for that. Because what he is basically saying is that I’m not through learning. Once you get through learning, it’s time for you to stop.”

Regardless of their recent meetup, the clip of Roy Jones Jr. and Artur Beterbiev engrossed in a game of chess quickly made waves on social media.

Fan speculates who would win in a fight

With both boxers widely regarded as the best of their eras in the light heavyweight division, their meeting naturally sparked a wave of praise. One user crowned the fighters kings of their generations. “2 KINGS of their respective boxing generations💪🏽💪🏽🔥🔥,” the user wrote. While Jones managed to hold on to the title for three years, it’s yet to be seen how long Beterbiev can hold onto it. 

Another user simply seemed happy to see the duo together. “Good to see the champs chilling together,” the user commented. By the looks of their friendship, they might be seen “chilling” together more often. 

The next user celebrated their meeting by branding them the best in the division. “2 the best ever in 175 pounds,” the user wrote. However, if Dmitry Bivol wins the upcoming rematch, ‘the best’ crown may go to him, at least in the current generation. After all, in the first fight, most people thought he won the fight. 

While everyone else was praising Beterbiev and Jones, this user turned his attention on something else. “This amount of food for 2 people is really hungry.😂😂😂,” the user wrote. However, they were clearly accompanied by others.

Meanwhile, one user got straight to the point, raising an interesting question. “Who would win in their primes,” the user asked. While Beterbiev has exclusively held titles in the light heavyweight division, Roy Jones Jr.’s dominance extended to the cruiserweight division as well. Both fighters boast impressive amateur careers, but Jones’s success across multiple weight classes arguably gives him a slight edge over Beterbiev.

That being said, the surprise meeting between Roy Jones Jr. and Artur Beterbiev delighted the fans online. They might be from separate generations, but they clearly respect each other equally. What did you think about their meeting?