Roy Jones Jr. doesn’t understand why certain people accuse him of “hating on” welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr.

In the past, the Hall of Fame boxer has criticized Spence, who holds the IBF and WBC welterweight belts, for not pushing harder for a showdown against WBO titleholder and rival Terence Crawford. But that does not stem from any personal bias against Spence, says Jones, who only wants to see the so-called best prove their case inside the ring.  

“I love the state of boxing, but I keep getting accused of not liking Errol Spence,” Jones told Brian Custer on a recent episode of The Last Stand podcast. “I really like Errol Spence. I think Errol Spence is a great talent and a great fighter. It’s just [that] when you get two fighters to rise to the top, the east and the west, you want to see who’s best. The only problem I have is that he’s the other top welterweight next to Terence Crawford who has probably proven himself a lot more than Errol has, so it’s, like, I don’t see the big dog fight.”  

In other words, hate the game, not the player.

“I’m like a boxing fan, when one gets hot over here and one gets hot over there, we want to see who’s the best,” Jones continued. “That’s what boxing has lost nowadays. So what Josh Taylor did [against Jose Ramirez] that was really good for boxing because that’s all we’re trying to find out, who’s the best? Why you talking about hatin’. I don’t hate nobody. I don’t really have time. I love the sport too much to hate people.”

Taylor, the Scotland native, became the undisputed junior welterweight champion after beating Jose Ramirez in Las Vegas on May 22. Jones wants to see the same dynamic play out between Crawford and Spence.

“I was always used to the Michael Jordan era,” Jones said. “The Michael Jordan way. The heart...The main thing about the old school was that we wanted to know who was the best. We couldn’t put two best together and y’all go play the rest. No, no, no, no. We want to know who the best [is]. You get you and your squad and [I’ll] get my squad and we’re gonna find out who’s the best.”

Jones says he is undecided on who would win in a potential Crawford-Spence superfight.

“I’m not saying that I give Earl the advantage,” said Jones. “I think Terence has a little more experience but that don’t mean Terence is going to beat Errol [even though] he has the experience factor going in.”

“So now go find out who’s the best,” he added. “That’s all I’m asking.”

Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) is preparing for a pay-per-view fight against Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) on Aug. 21 in Las Vegas. 

Crawford (37-0, 28 KOs) currently does not have a scheduled fight. His last appearance was in November, a stoppage over Kell Brook.