One-time Undisputed Pound-for-Pound King Roy Jones Jr. (50-4, 38KO's) returns to the ring on July 14th, 2007 against unknown challenger Anthony Hanshaw (21-0, 14KO's). Hanshaw, who has a solid record, has not faced any meaningful opposition and will be facing his toughest opponent thus far in Jones Jr. While many may not know Hanshaw (including most of us here at touchgloves), they will certainly recognize his trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., who is Oscar De La Hoya's former trainer and father of the current pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Jones Jr. who is now 38-years-old has lost three of his last four fights, two by the way of knockout, and one by way of not wanting to put up a fight at all in his final meeting with Antonio Tarver. Jones Jr. returned to the ring last July against Prince Badi Ajamu (26-3, 15KO's). Even though Jones Jr. was able to win almost every round against Ajamu, he did not look like the Pound-for-Pound legend we all used to know. Jones Jr. moved around Ajamu, landed with good combinations, and in all fairness, gave himself a grade of a "C" for his performance.
Five years ago, Ajamu would have been stopped in less than six rounds. Roy Jones is older, slower, and less willing to engage his opponents. After taking two punishing consecutive knockouts by Tarver and then Glen Johnson, Jones has just not been the same. Jones continues to talk a big game, often calling out British Champion Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins, but it isn't clear if he's sincere in his threats, or merely using his star power to capture media attention.
Does Roy Jones really want to fight any of the top 10 contenders? A better question would be whether he can actually beat a top 10 contender. The answer could be yes, but why. With the current state of the 160 - 175lbs divisions including Mikel Kessler, Joe Calzaghe, Kelly Pavlik, Bernard Hopkins, Winky Wright and Jermain Taylor. Last week, the current middleweight champ Jermain Taylor was able to beat Corey Spinks without fighting. There was moving, running, ducking and a lot of heavy breathing in Taylor's corner, but no fighting. To the contrary, Kelly Pavlik destroyed hyped up Edison Miranda knocking him down three times before the ref finally decided to stop the fight. A clearly hurt Miranda didn't know what hit him. So where would Roy Jones fit?
Since you can now apparently be a champion in boxing without fighting, I say, there is no reason that Roy Jones shouldn't come back. However, that is exactly what the fans dont want? We cannot ignore the fact that boxing is losing its fanbase and mixed martial arts is gaining at breakneck pace for one reason: action. We as boxing fans want to watch Pavlik, Kessler and Calzaghe get down and dirty, engage their opponents, get knocked down and knock their oppoenents down. There are enough Wrights, Taylors and Hopkins's who dance around, throw 10 punches a round and win decisions and we dont need another to join that trio.
As a Roy Jones Jr. fan, I personally would not want to see him fight again. All too often, boxing legends come back for that one last fight that will bring them back to star status. We saw Muhammed Ali do it, Sugar Ray Leonard did it, Mike Tyson did it and now Roy Jones Jr. will walk down that same path. Jones's place in the hall-of-fame has been solidified and he is arguably one of the most talented light heavyweight champions of our times
The fight will take place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi and is promoted by Murad Muhammad and Square Ring Promotions, Jones's promotional outfit. The fight is available on Pay-Per-View at $29.95.
contact the author at rmaiker@touchgloves.com
Comments (1)
People don't like the boxing game anymore because wherever Don King is there's suspicion as to who is taking a dive. I don't believe that Roy Jones, Jr. has ever lost a fight legitimately, without the coercion of Don King. The boxing game has died out because of him. He's a bad man!!
Posted by Stephanie | June 24, 2007 3:21 PM