A press roll with adjustable flexion has a roll shell mounted to rotate around a fixed yoke and mounted with self-aligning bearings on a support cap in which the yoke is also supported on its own curved support. The press roll works in conjunction with a mating roll to form a press zone, near which there is a main hydraulic support that is positioned between the yoke and the shell and that transfers support forces from the yoke to the shell. The distance between the bearings of the shell is equal to that of the mating roll. The self-aligning bearing and the curved yoke support are mounted concentrically on a tubular collar of the support cap. There can also be supplemental supports outside the press zone for imposing additional flexion on the roll shell.