NEW YORK -- Roy Jones Jr. was in the city to talk about fighting Eric Harding. So, as is often the case these days, the first fighter the undisputed light heavyweight champion was asked about was Evander Holyfield.

"I don't think Holyfield wants to fight me," Jones said Tuesday. "I definitely would fight him because he is the (WBA) heavyweight champion. I'd fight him one time. I don't want to be a heavyweight except to fight for the title."

It probably won't happen, but if the 6-foot-1 Jones got a shot at the heavyweight title Holyfield probably would be his choice because he is closer to Jones' size than WBC-IBF champion Lennox Lewis.

"I can't be a legitimate lightweight (135 pounds) and I can't be a legitimate heavyweight, but I can be a hell of a light heavyweight (175)," Jones said.

It is because Jones, who won and relinquished middleweight and super middleweight titles, is such a dominant fighter that he keeps getting asked about fighting as a heavyweight.

Some writers have referred to the lack of serious competition as the curse of Roy Jones.

"I don't like fighting guys like Eric Harding, but I've got to," said Jones of his opponent, who is ranked No. 1 by the IBF.

Jones tried to put a positive spin on his pay-per-view (TVKO) fight against Harding Sept. 9 at New Orleans by saying, "When I fight a guy who's not as good as me, I get nervous because I know this guy can catch me if I'm not really focused. He's beaten guys he's not supposed to have beaten."

Probably the only opponent Harding, of Philadelphia, wasn't expected to beat on his record of 19-0-1 with six knockouts was Antonio Tarver, outpointed in 12 rounds on June 23. The draw was in a four-rounder in his first fight in 1991.

Jones has a 42-1 record, with 34 knockouts. The loss was on a disqualification to Montell Griffin in 1997. He knocked out Griffin in the first round of the rematch.