Report: UFC Veteran Chris Lytle in Negotiations to Box Roy Jones Jr.

Chris Lytle is reportedly in negotiations to box Roy Jones Jr. | Mike Fridley/Sherdog.com

According to a report on Wednesday’s new episode of “UFC Tonight,” Lytle is in negotiations to compete with Jones Jr. at 175 pounds, which is the upper limit of boxing’s light heavyweight division. The bout is reportedly being considered for later this year, though no details on the potential fight date were revealed.

A former multi-division world champion, Jones began his boxing career with 49 wins in his first 50 outings and was long regarded as one of the sport’s finest pound-for-pound talents. Jones, 45, was previously rumored to be in negotiations with both Anderson Silva and Quinton Jackson, though neither matchup materialized.

Lytle, 39, announced his retirement from mixed martial arts nearly three years ago, winning five of his final six fights. The 39-year-old last competed in August 2011, submitting Dan Hardy in the main event of UFC Live 5 to cap his 54-fight career. “Lights Out” began his MMA run in 1999 and fought his way to the finals of “The Ultimate Fighter 4” before coming up short in a welterweight No. 1 contender’s bout with Matt Serra in November 2006.