Former pound-for-pound king playing it lax
One would assume that a boxer who has not won a fight since 2003 would be all business in preparing for his next bout. Of course, that assumption goes out the window when that fighter is Roy Jones, Jr. (49-4, 38 KOs).
The ever-eccentric former pound-for-pound king returns to the ring Saturday night in Boise, Idaho, to face Prince Badi Ajamu (25-2-1, 14 KOs). A fight against the unheralded Ajamu is the best Jones could do after three losses in row, two to Antonio Tarver and one to Glen Johnson.
By all accounts, Jones’ attitude towards this fight is as lax as usual. He has been spotted around Pensacola, Florida promoting rap albums, entering local fishing tournaments, and playing semiprofessional basketball. According to Jones, nothing has changed.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about what I’m doing now,� Jones recently told the Associated Press. “I am not doing anything different than what I was doing back in ’96. I was fishing back then. I’d go every day in the shark-infested waters — it relaxes me. I was playing basketball then.�
The only difference is that back in ’96, Jones’ fans wondered if he could play a semipro basketball game and defend his IBF super middleweight title against Eric Lucas in the same day. Now, in 2006, they just hope he can make it out of Boise with his dignity intact.
I have a sneaky suspicion that RJJ will be KTFO in this fight. The qualties that made him an out of this world fighter (speed and reflexes) are all but a distant memory. Roy was never a text book fighter and now the matrix has sped up and he no longer sees things in slow motion like he used to.
The shots that Tarver and Johnson caught him would have never touched the prime Roy.
Without a doubt, Roy was the most physically gifted fighter I have ever seen. He should have retired after the Ruiz fight and his legacy might have been top 5 p4p ever.
Jones left Florida last week to finish up his training in Boise. He’s also helping the promoters beat the streets, in an attempt to maximize ticket sales.
Also, for what it’s worth, his training camp while in Florida was in Melbourne, not Pensacola. The equivalent would be claiming to spot someone in Times Square while they’re actually in Cleveland.
If anything, the only “same old thing” is the media continuing to assume what Roy is up to, rather than actually attempting to find out. That’s not limited to this single blog entry, but rather directed at the media in general.
like i said he shoulda faught hopkins in june and took off
Man i jus hope roy can make it out boise wit a win. So he can gain some confidence in his quest for a legendary comeback. If roy jones can jus focus on boxing i think he could make that comeback
Gatti, Roy Jones, Tarver, de la Hoya, Barrara, Mosely, Vargas, Please retire for your own health. Lets focus on some New Exciting Blood. Time to get over it. You guys are finished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roy Jones is gonna CREAM this guy, then POUND Glen Johnson, then in a battle to settle a VERY OLD score, have a classic boxing match (I don’t know who wins this one.) with Bernard Hopkins! WATCH!! YOU SAW IT HERE FIRST!!!
IF ROY NEVER WOULD’VE DROP WEIGHT (30lbs) TO FIGHT TARVER AFTER THE RUIZ FIGHT AND MADE TARVER MOVE UP IN WEIGHT TO FIGHT HIM, THEN WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS CONVO ABOUT THE BEST PFP IN BOXING, AND A LEGEND I MIGHT ADD.
I KNOW BY HOMEBOY RICH WONT AGREE!!!!!
IF ROY NEVER WOULD’VE DROP WEIGHT (30lbs) TO FIGHT TARVER AFTER THE RUIZ FIGHT AND MADE TARVER MOVE UP IN WEIGHT TO FIGHT HIM, THEN WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS CONVO ABOUT THE BEST PFP IN BOXING, AND A LEGEND I MIGHT ADD.
I KNOW BY HOMEBOY RICH WONT AGREE!!!!!
Man as much as I hate to say this, somewhat of everything the above guys are saying is true, Jones Jnr to me was what boxing was about the flashiness of this guy had me and my brother in absolute awe.
He epitomised Boxing for me, no one came close to his skill, technicallity and pure crowd pleasing. That has now gone after several loses and his non dedication to the sweet science he should retire after this fight regardless of the outcome no more fights as it’s just a downward spiral from here for my greatest boxer of all time.
It actually hurts to see the loses he accrued but he will and is always a legend to me and will be always prime spot in my hall of fame.
DIGGY Says:
July 24th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
Roy Jones is gonna CREAM this guy, then POUND Glen Johnson, then in a battle to settle a VERY OLD score, have a classic boxing match (I don’t know who wins this one.) with Bernard Hopkins! WATCH!! YOU SAW IT HERE FIRST!!!
hahahah never ever!!!!! ur wiggin
Roy is finished, there’s no way this guy should last 5 rounds with him, if he goes more than that Roy is setting himself up like Mike Tyson’s last few fights, over the hill & not belonging in the ring. He should retire anyway, who is left to fight??
pride will take u for a ride all the time. pride took roy to three very embarrassing defeats. he should ve fought at a catch weight if Tarver wanted him bad enough. his era is done but there is always hope, look at mosely. but all in all Roy go ahead and commentate we won’t be mad at ya. but u need to knock this dude out…..
Peace
RJJ is the man and everone is off the band wagon now that he doesnt make other good boxers look like amatuers. It chaps my hide now when people critisize him for losing a couple of fights after winning his 1st 50. Dont hate because RJJ KO’d all your hopes and dreams back in the day. Sit back and watch as he destroys the boxing Prince and comes back to where he needs to be before he retires as an un-parralleled force in boxing. Have fun after i leave this when picking it apart, but RJJ is the man and nobody could have beaten him in his hayday. Done.
Roy has me curious. I’d love to see him get back in the ring and show his old magic, but no other boxer has been able to fight back Father Time. Roy’s game was speed and reflexes and he was untouchable for a long time. But now, in three straight fights he’s been knocked cold or been out on his feet. He’s not avoiding the punches that used to miss by a mile.
I hope he can drop this chump and maybe get one more meaningful fight so he can go out like the champion he once was.
I think Roy is living in a fantasy world. We all know a primed Roy bordered
on the unbeatable and just a pleasure to watch. But unfortunately no man can escape the grips of fathertime. I’m not sure what else Roy feels he has
to prove. But none the less I still will be watching this fight hoping to see
just a glimpse of the entertainment he used to bring to the ring.