The Reincarnation of Roy Jones Jr...!!

You all want to believe. Is is possible that Roy will win, but it cannot be predicted from any rational extrapolation of his form and current ability. If he wins it will defy all odds. I am cheering for him, but certainly wont be putting my money on him.

 

I am very suprised by the numbers of people picking Jones to win. I have never been more certain of a fighter winning than Calzaghe beating this faded legend in Roy Jones Jr. Jones is simply passed his best and no longer has the stamina or mobilty to defeat a fighter with Calzaghes attributes.

To contradict what many have stated on this thread I have always thought Calzaghe has a bad style match up for Jones not the other way round. Southpaw, unorthodox, quicks hands and feet, high workrate and superb chin.

I can't see how Jones will negate Calzaghe's workrate. Power alone will not be enough. Hopkins decked Calzaghe but did Calzaghe ease up and drop his workrate? Answer is no. Calzaghe has shown in previous fights if he is dropped he simply fires back, just watch the Mitchell fight to see evidence of that. People are making way to much of the knockdown against Hopkins, Calzaghe's chin is well proven and Jones hasn't KO'ed an opponent in years.

Hopkins who like Jones is past his best has mastered the art of negating a younger fighters workrate. By a combination of tying up an opponent and movement to ensure they are rarely in a position to set their feet and throw. This worked well against slow footed fighters like Trinidad, Pavlik and Tarver but Calzaghe is very mobile himself which is why he gave Hopkins problems but a much slower footed volume puncher like Pavlik was taken to school.

Jones no longer has the legs to keep Calzaghe at a distance and hasn't shown in previous fights an inclination to tie up his opponent. Jones has made adjustments, he now has a much higher guard and blocks shots on his arms (where once his reflexes would have allowed him to slip these punches) and then fires back when his opponent stops punching. Unfortunately for Jones, Calzaghe will give him very few moments to return fire.

Jones will have his moments early on but will be forced into a shell by the mid rounds. I also think we will see the return of a harder punching Calzaghe as this will be his last fight and he won't look to protect his hands as much. Calzaghe by KO in about 10 rounds.

 

I agree.

This is the same thing people did with Hatton vs Mayweather.

We all wanted the underdog to come good so much that after a while people started to believe Hatton might actually do a number on him.

When Ricky put in a brave performance but was finally outboxed and stopped, the realisation kicked in that we'd been fooling ourselves.

Roy Jones stands a chance of winning but for all the reasons Bo Bo Olsen has pointed out, it seems unlikely.