My take on Roy Jones vs Felix Trinidad and what this means for the future

I sat up all night to watch this fight and the first few rounds were exciting. Trinidad looked busy early on and took the fight to Roy. RJJ took over from round 4 and that was pretty much that. I have to say that I wasn't that impressed with either guy. Sure, there were some admirable flashes from a 39 year old. I hope I'm able to move that well when I'm 29 let alone 39. But from what I'm reading, people are going overboard with this performance. Words like "great" and "only Roy Jones can do that!" make me cringe.

I'm sure you saw little bits of what Roy used to do in the past and I can only assume it's a nostalgic response because I saw a couple of average boxers in that ring tonight. Maybe that's a little unfair, they're better than average.

I hate the way Jones retreats to the ropes, leaning back with his gloves up beside his head. The same pose that has seen him knocked out previously, leaving his chin dangling. He just won't be able to get away with that against a bigger opponent. Roy's speed (though very good for a 39 year old) just isn't there anymore. He was facing a 35 year old guy with a suspect chin, roughly 20lbs over his optimum weight and has been out of action for 2 and a half years. Yes, he was quick enough to catch Tito almost at will at times but never had him on ***** street. The few times that Trinidad put pressure on Jones, he got through.. I was amazed how easy it seemed.

The counterpunching on display was below par for a vintage Roy Jones also. I'm not even going to begin to argue the case for how handily Gary Kasparov... er, I mean, Joe Calzaghe would handle this version of Jones because I do not even want to give that fight any credence.

Trinidad doesn't belong anywhere near the Light Heavyweight division and it's an insult to Joe Calzaghe to think that Roy Jones Junior deserves anything to do with him based on the last 3 and a half years of his career. I'm sorry if you find this offensive but I'm really trying to be objective here. Roy Jones of the past was sublime, absolutely sensational. But this is a shadow. A pale diminishing shadow waiting to be scrubbed out forever, only to live long in the memory of what was, once, one of the greatest of all time.

 

How can you say he can hang with the best? Are you saying that Trinidad is about the best challenge that the weight of 170lbs? That's clearly absurd. Let's take it back a stage further: Anthony Hanshaw? Prince Ajamu? Were they the best contenders at 175? Before that was his series of losses.

Goodnight

 

Decebal, I'm a bit surprised at your lack of understanding. I have no desire whatsoever seeing Joe take on this current version of Roy Jones Jnr. Roy simply cannot win, that's the bottom line. There's nothing he can do. I, like most sane people would pick Jones 9.5 times out of 10 to beat Calzaghe prime for prime. What I'm saying is that this current version of Jones is so far removed from prime that he may as well be a different boxer.

Bernard Hopkins, you'd have to agree poses very different questions. His style, not built on speed, makes him top 10 in EVERYONES current (note the word CURRENT) p4p lists. It would be a major coup for Joe to get this guy on his CV whilst he is still ranked. Joe has never fought anyone quite like Hopkins.

Jones probably didn't even make it into a lot of peoples current Light Heavyweight Top 10 before last night. One win against a two and a half year retiree way above his best weight and everything ok?

 

I agree the 0 losses mean nothing. However, over 10 years as champion, ring champ, unified champ, recently beat 2 good young rival champions means he's the best there is to offer at the fighting weight of 168lbs.

To all intents and purposes, Roy was a Super Middleweight last night at 169 and three quarter pounds. That's very close to where Joe's been fighting all his career.

I don't need to argue a case for Joe's chin standing up to Roy's current power.

 

This is all I'm saying. I have muchos respect for prime Roy and as a 39 year old, he's very good. But he doesn't belong on the world stage any longer. Nobody gets KTFO by Tarver and Johnson and recover a few years later. Joe would be in his face all night long and I can see Roy taking a lot of shots. And nobody, even Joe's biggest fans, would enjoy that very much.

This is a fine place for Jones to bow out. Nobody would care that he would never have fought Calzaghe. It's Joe's loss not Roys.