The Gloves are off | Super middleweight special | Roy Jones Jr, Calzaghe, Eubank, Collins

...continued;

Roid was already clearly full of bs by this point; his bs continued even after Collins retired with Roid's handlers tediously publicly claiming that he still wanted the fight while still admitting to Roid pricing himself out in demanding a ridiculous $5m. Yet again Collins called Roid's bluff and like magic, Roid's team went quiet.;

Jones wants Collins [not]
DUBLIN, Ireland
08 Oct 1997

WBC light-heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr. wants to fight Ireland's Steve Collins, who announced his surprise retirement last week.

Collins, the former WBO super-middleweight champ, said he regretted never having fought the American champion.

Jones' spokesman and publicist, Greg Fritz, said Wednesday the fight can still happen.

"Roy has wanted to fight Steve for some time and if the money is right he will," Fritz said. "He wants Steve to come out of retirement to fight him."

Fritz said Jones would have to get $5 million for the fight.

"We are prepared to come to Dublin, Belfast, Boston, wherever he wants to fight," Fritz said. "At this moment, I'm just waiting for his call. The fight can be made."

In the meantime, Fritz said, negotiations are underway for Jones to fight Germany's WBO light-heavyweight champion Dariusz Michalczewski.

---

Collins: $5m? 'No'
Mirror, London
10 Oct 1997

Steve Collins has c0cked a sceptical eyebrow at the £3million comeback offer from Roy Jones.

"If they are serious they can write to me, my solicitor, or my promoter," said the recently retired WBO super middleweight champion.

"I retired last week and I am not interested in the publicity stunts," added the Dubliner who fought 39 pro fights, lost only three and stopped opponents on 21 occasions.

"Asking for $5million, a totally unrealistic sum, shows that Jones does not really want the fight. It's just talk," said Collins.

Less than a week after Steve made a tearful farewell to the game that has probably netted him pounds 2m, the Jones camp came up with their offer.

But Collins insisted yesterday: "I retired last week, I am still retired and I am enjoying being retired, so I am not impressed with this nonsense."

At 33 Collins has lost his appetite for boxing and after ten tough years in the pro ranks has had enough.

---

As expected, Roid finally gave up the WBC title in Nov to avoid Nunn and begin the scandalous Double-duck.

[After Roid's heavily juiced-up performance vs Griffin II] "Normal Business Resumed" read the headlines. Well, I'm afraid it's true. Roy is back to his old self. The same old self that kept us guessing as to whether he could beat Nigel Benn when both were recognized as the super-middleweight division's top guns. The same old self that really didn't want to face Benn's conqueror Steve Collins but instead of saying so blamed the fact that he wasn't getting his ridiculous purse demand of $5m for the fight. The same old self that most recently - and most disturbingly - relinquished his WBC light-heavyweight belt in order to avoid facing Michael Nunn. Again the dust was blown off an old excuse from the Roy archives: This time he was upset that HBO were apparently planning not to screen the fight. Yup, normal business is resumed.
- CyberBoxingZone, 17 Dec 1997

 

The comeback that wasn't

In Jan '99 after Roid defeated the worst cherrypick of his career in 39 year old club fighter & full-time NYC cop Richard Frazier, Collins - apparently out of retirement - got in the ring to challenge Roid during his post-fight interview in front of Roid's hometown fans. True to form, Roid refused to even acknowledge Collins or answer Larry Merchant's question on who he'd like to box next, reacting instead by nonsensically ranting like a spoiled child.

At this point HBO's commentary was still trying to protect Roid's reputation in not revealing the truth about the Frazier cherrypick to viewers, instead falsely placing the blame on the WBC for Roid boxing such a bum. Frazier was in fact not an opponent dictated by the WBC; though Frazier was the WBC #1 ranked challenger, Jones-Frazier was not an enforced mandatory defense but a voluntary one by Jones. As per WBC rules, WBC interim champion Graciano Rocchigiani - whom Roid was blatantly avoiding - had precedence over Frazier to challenge for the WBC title and was awaiting his shot. Jones boxed Frazier because he wanted to. (WBC President Jose Sulaiman would go as far as putting out a statement denying the Frazier fight was a WBC-ordered defence.)

This content is protected

Note: In the fantasy world of clueless delusional spastic Loudunce, HBO's commentary - in particular Larry Merchant - actually weren't lying to protect Roid with their false narrative but apparently "crucified him" & "hung him out to dry" for boxing Frazier. Again, absolute nonsense. The exact opposite of reality.

...Coming out of retirement Collins obviously didn't have the momentum of 1½ years earlier, had no world title, and less negotiating power & public interest in the fight (the fans were bored with 'Reluctant Roid' by now).

Still, Roid - via his attorney Stan Levin - apparently agreed to finally box Collins. 17 Apr was the scheduled date and the search for a venue began.

In a complete b*tch move, Roid then unsurprisingly backed out without even informing Collins or Levin, choosing instead to target the paper IBF 175lb strap now held by Reggie Johnson (past-prime and 2 divisions above his optimum weight) who had exposed Guthrie's china chin in Feb '98.

Roid's new douchebag promoter, Murad 'the world's most stupid man' Muhammad who was telling Roid he was worth nine figure paydays would cover for Roid & his bs when he publicly shot down any chance of a Jones-Collins bout;

Jones clash heads for KO
By Harry Mullan
15 Jan 1999

Professional boxing is a world of hidden agendas, lies and bluff, but the confusion surrounding Steve Collins' date with Roy Jones is setting new standards.

It is hard to believe that a shrewd and streetwise pragmatist like Collins, a man who has always cherished his own reputation, would run the risk of exposing himself to public ridicule by announcing the fight was on if there was any doubt about it, but if we are to believe Murad Muhammad, the American's promoter, this is precisely what has happened.

Mohammad insists that there is no question of Jones facing Collins in Las Vegas, Dublin or anywhere than in the Irishman's imagination. He refutes the support which Jones' manager, Stanley Levin, has given to the fight, and says that Levin must either have exceeded his authority to speak for the fighter, or else has been misquoted or misinterpreted.

Yet, Levin, a Florida lawyer, who gives the impression of operating on a rather higher moral plain than is customary in this business, stands by his word. There is clearly a split in the ranks, and one possibly significant aspect of the affair is that Mohammad is trying to steer Jones into a light-heavyweight championship unification match with IBF title holder, Reggie Johnson. Jones already holds the WBC and WBA versions.

When Johnson beat Collins for the middleweight title in New Jersey a few years ago, Mohammad was involved as Johnson's representative. Their current relationship is unknown, but the cynical viewpoint, which is often the most accurate and rewarding, could be that he is pushing for the Jones v Johnson match with the tempting prospect of earning from it in both capacities, as promoter and through his "piece" of Johnson, if he has such an arrangement.

Such deals, known as double dipping, are commonplace in American boxing circles.

The American press reported the announcement that the Collins fight is on, but without any comment from Jones or Mohammad.

The match would have a degree of credibility in America, where Collins is still well remembered and accorded more respect than most European fighters are accustomed to receiving over there.

Jones is known to be growing increasingly bored with the lack of challenges on offer for him, and whatever doubts about the Collins match there may be in the Florida camp, they are unlikely to be coming from the man himself. As always, though, the money men will have the last word. If Jones' TV backers at HBO want the fight it will happen: if they don't, Collins faces the prospect of an excruciatingly embarrassing public climb down.

The latter may still be the case.

HBO chief, Lou Dibella, last night insisted there had been no contact between himself and either the Collins or Jones camp on the possibility of a fight.

Dibella, who as chief of the network to which Jones is contracted, would have to okay such a deal, said in a telephone conference: "There would be little or no interest in Collins v Jones in America. Collins has not fought in a year and a half and although he was a very good champion there would not be a great deal of interest in him in America at the moment. If he wants to fight someone else before Roy Jones then interest may pick up.

"I would like to see Collins fight Joe Calzaghe, who holds Collins' former super middleweight crown. Calzaghe is an exciting fighter, whom we have earmarked to fight Roy Jones at some stage. At the moment Reggie Johnson, the IBF light heavyweight champion, is the one who I feel most deserves a shot at Jones. However, if Collins was to fight Calzaghe possibly on a Jones undercard, then the winner could meet Jones in their next contest," said Dibella.

The likelihood of Collins fighting anyone but Jones is slim, given that he has consistently said that he would only come out of retirement to meet Jones. Dibella said he had spoken to Murad Muhamad, but had not had any contact with either Collins or his solicitor, Brian Delahunt, when they were in Florida last weekend.

Collins' solicitor, Delahunt, said yesterday that he had been talking with Stanley Levin, Jones' attorney, regarding the contest, and that negotiations had been taking place between those two.

On the possibility of Jones and Collins, he said there would be no further announcements until negotiations took place between Jones' camp and Collins' camp with HBO.

---

After defeating Johnson, Roid would now spuriously call himself the "undisputed champion".

"Absolutely laughable."

...Giving up on an immediate match with Reluctant Roid yet still having the itch to fight, Collins - as DiBella suggested - turned his attention to WBO 168lb titlist Calzaghe with the winner hoping to box Jones. However, in May '99 Collins collapsed while sparring middleweight Howard 'The Battersea Bomber' Eastman for a warm-up fight before Calzaghe, putting an end to his comeback and talk of a Jones-Collins matchup - for another 13-14 years at least. Of course Roid would p*ssy out of boxing Calzaghe in late 2000 anyway after declaring he was "definitely moving back down to 168lbs" in Sep.

Note: Yet another lie from the fat deluded creep;

"Lou DiBella of HBO wasn't interested in a Roy-Collins fight at the time. But he stated that if Collins fought Joe, then the winners could potentially meet the winner between Roy-Reggie. But Collins wasn't interested."

Collins wasn't interested?? Clown.

 

...continued;

...embarrassingly, Roid would give a final bizarre, previously unheard-of reason for avoiding the best opposition;

Asked why his resume does not include some names that should be on it, Jones said, “I had my reasons for doing what I was doing. I made (boxing) so delightful that you didn’t need to watch me fight another 'name' fighter. I could fight anybody.

???

...Back to the Collins duck; ahead of Roid's gift opportunity against Joe Calzaghe on HBO ppv in 2008, HOF trainer Freddy Roach would also confirm Jones avoided his super-middleweight rivals Collins & Liles;

Calzaghe-Jones and an era in judgment
By Eric Raskin
14 Jul 2008

Trainer Freddie Roach, who has worked with such elite modern fighters as Hopkins and Manny Pacquiao, is one observer who doesn't believe a Jones win over Calzaghe is enough to elevate him above his peers, largely because Jones was reluctant to face some of his most dangerous foes during his prime.

"I always felt he ducked some fighters out there," Roach told ESPN.com. "When he was at super middleweight, both Frankie Liles and Steve Collins, two fighters I trained who had world titles -- they both wanted to fight him but he wouldn't fight either of them. I mean, probably Roy Jones would have beaten them, but Frankie did beat him twice in the amateurs, so you never know. At super middleweight, Jones never tried to unify the titles, and that really made me not such a Roy Jones fan, to be honest. To be known as the best, I think you need to beat everybody."

In a 2013 podcast, Liles, now a trainer and one of the most down-to-earth, honest, and respected people in boxing, K-1, & mma - i.e. literally the exact opposite of Roid Jones - also mentioned Roid's refusal to box him. (Loudunce's lies about Roid trying to fight Liles - which contradict his own Don King excuse - have already been completely debunked in other threads by general zod);

This content is protected

...Roid's 50/50 purse split with Calzaghe - a deal which Calzaghe's former promoter Allegedly stated he could've easily tipped in Calzaghe's favour - was obviously something shameless Roid would've never dreamed of sharing in his prime. However, Calzaghe didn't possess anywhere near the greed or arrogance Roid did.

Note: The deluded Loudunce fanboy narrative;

LOL. That 12 round biatch-slapping Calzaghe gave Roid must still hurt...

And in another interview before the Calzaghe bout, Roid admits he could've made any fight yet when put on the spot regarding Collins he backtracks instantly. LOL;

I didn't expect a white ass motherf*cker in here
Sunday Tribune
28 Sep 2008

Was it the case too that you couldn’t get a fight?

“I could get all the fights I want. That’s no problem. There are always guys out there.”

Like Steve Collins?

“Well, I don’t know about that.”

You know him right?

“I heard him talking a little bit.”

About wanting to fight you?

“Yeah.”

And you never took him up on it?

“I ain’t wasting my time coming all the way over there to see him, to fight him. He talked all he wanted but if he wanted to fight Roy Jones jnr, then he comes, he takes time out, he asks me. Not the other way around. That’s not the way it works.”

This is exactly what Collins did. Roid's excuses are literally nonsensical.

His comments are worthless. There's just no truth or logic in any of Roid's excuses. He's a proven pathological liar and his word means nothing.

Out of all the big fights Roid avoided, Collins was the easiest to make, and a victory over Collins was potentially Roid's second-best career win. Yet Roid still wouldn't take it.

That "speaks volumes".

For some reason HBO eventually gave the now-broke Roid - an embarrassment to the sport by this point - a financial lifeline and eventually hired him as a commentator again in 2011. Mystifying.

2013; Full Circle

The criticism for Roid's ducking & cherrypicking obviously never went away and by 2013 the talk came back to a Steve Collins fight after a Dec 2012 interview with ATG Radio in which Collins spoke of his disappointment in being ducked by Roid;

This content is protected

A prickly faux-incredulous Roid would apparently respond with a typical empty rant. Unfortunately for Roid, Collins will never let him get away with running his mouth;

This content is protected

Facile talk of a Collins-Jones seniors matchup would then begin to make headlines.

...During Sky Sports' Gloves Are Off super-middleweight episode in May 2013, Roid then made viewers cringe when he blurted out a brand new excuse for ducking Collins;

Claiming the exact opposite of reality, compulsive liar Roid stated "I was a giver. If you wanted it, I gave it to you. He [Collins] say he want it. What am I supposed to do, run? That's not in me (chuckles).", nonsensical rhetoric which Collins immediately called him out on, asking Roid then why didn't the fight ever happen between 89-99 and clearly stating in plain English "you were the one who could've make the decision for it to happen.", which Roid didn't disagree with.

Seemingly forgetting about his "7 figure offer" lie to Collins, Roid replied by bizzarely giving an absurd new excuse for ducking Collins in the form of Collins having an issue with Reggie Johnson. LOL. WTF? Even Collins was thrown off by such a nonsensical excuse (timestamped);

This content is protected

"Absolutely laughable."

...The only time Roid was ever a "giver" was when his spindly featherweight butt-buddy Derrick 'Ass Smoke' Gainer was bent over infront of him.

Note: Upon seeing how this absurd new excuse completely contradicts and exposes the "7 figures" nonsense as a lie, delsuional dishonest fanboy Fat Robert embarrassingly invented his own pathetic explanation [lie] off the top of his head to hopelessly try and rationalize Roid's lies and reconcile the Loudunce Fantasy World with reality;

"Absolutely laughable."

No, Roid didn't make a mistake.

No, he didn't rectify it at a later date.

You just made that up you pathetic clown.

And even if he did mean to say Calzaghe - which he obviously didn't - that would make no sense either.

If Roid had ever made an offer to Collins, he could've simply reminded Collins of that. But he didn't. Because he never did make an offer. LOL.

As usual, Roid simply lied through his teeth.

In fact Roid lied his way through that whole episode.

This stuff literally has to be spelled out to Loudunce. Over and over. For years. And still he can't get it through his thick skull. He really is that dumb & deluded. A complete waste of time - only worth ridiculing and bullying.

...As always, Roid again priced himself out of a Collins fight by parroting his usual rhetoric of wanting an unrealistic payday to "make it worth my time" etc...whilst boxing for the Mickey Mouse "World Boxing Union" (German Version) title in Eastern Europe.

At the end of a Sky Sports News interview which has disappeared from YouTube, Collins admitted it wasn't going to happen and the talk eventually fizzled out.

 

The Petronelli’s not allowing Hagler and Collins to spar was to protect Collins. Marvelous Marvin is not the type to carry his sparring partners.

 

I personally never thought Steve Collins was capable of beating Roy Jones. No where near good enough.

 

I won’t call Collins a ducker but the impression I got was that at the end of his career he did not fancy taking on Calzaghe.

 

Calzaghe, what a fighter.

 

Collins was a brawler and a good one, think he would of struggled with roys hand speed tho Jones was fast

 

He had no motivation. But he should have said that instead of saying he was injured.