I doubt Jones would take the fight if he thought he had no chance, I also seriously doubt he has money worries. Maybe it is all about his legacy, which although is already cemented if he KO'd Calzaghe he'd jump another level. I suspect seeing Joe go down hard from a Hopkins right hand gave him a lot of confidence. Jones wouldn't have let Calzaghe off the hook like Hopkins did, I'm sure of that.
Come on. Lacy was so one dimensional in that fight Calzaghe looked like he was fighting a cardboard cut-out. A shot Jones is still in a different talent universe to a "prime" (and I use the word advisedly) Lacy.:nut Judging by Calzaghes new technique as displayed in the B-Hop fight the worst that Jones has got to worry about is a severe handbagging rather than a shellacking. Jones KOs Cal middle rounds. :happy
The American audience isn't excited about Chad Dawson at all. Calzaghe vs. Jones is a much easier fight to sell, and you risk it if Jones were to lose prior to that bout. Calzaghe has no business fighting Dawson on a risk/reward basis. Make no mistake: That's the fight I want over all others, but very few casual fans feel the same. To that same fan, the victory over Trinidad proved that Roy is somewhat back. Enough to sell the fight. And that's all that matters for Calzaghe, Jones, the promoters and HBO. As is almost always the case. Jones hasn't beaten anything close to a world-class opponent at 175 since Clinton Woods. That was six years and two KO defeats ago.
I actually agree with this, the fact that Roy hasnt hung em up means that in his mind he still believes he has that #4# greatness. He has enough $$ to be comfortable, so I don't necesarily but into that 100%
Those who say Jones has no chance of beating Calzaghe appear to be forgetting that: 1. In his biggest fight in America and at his highest weight, he didn't start fighting HIS fight against Bernard Hopkins (who you may recall lost a close one to Jones in '94) until around the fourth round. He was knocked DOWN by a 43-year old man!!! 2. Jones looked very good against Trinidad. Yes, that counts for something. Trinidad came to fight and looked surprisingly good, and Jones threw some solid powershots/combinations in decking him twice/winning the decision. 3. Heigh is about even, as is reach (slightly for Jones). 4. Roy Jones fans paranoia about his chin will be eased by the fact that Calzaghe hasn't really been devastating in recent years, though a splendid technician.
There's no reason to have Tarver v. Jones and having the winner face Calzaghe. Jones vs. Calzaghe will be big regardless. And if both want it, **** having some pointless eliminator happen.
I knew someone would bring that up. Jones and Tito are friends...if you couldn't see that Jones was holding Trinidad up in that fight then there's no hope for you. If Jones gets Calzaghe in trouble, he'll finish it. Mark my words :deal
Rjj Better Skips Another Fight W/tarver. Anyone Thinking He Has A Real Chance Against Tarver Must Be Delusional(blocky?) .he Looked Good (very) Against Trinidad, A Fighter That Hasn't Had Any Real Success Above 154 Lbs And Just Looks Ridiculous Everytime He Goes To The Ring At These Weights. If Jones Fights A Real Top 10 He's Going To Have A Hard Time!
Jones/Tarver is not an especially attractive PPV fight. Nor is Calzaghe/Dawson. Joe has two options: Jones or Pavlik. He's too far along in his career to dick around with set-up fights. Now, if you go straight to Calzaghe/Jones and then Tarver/Dawson, that's a potential different story. The issue then (assuming a Calzaghe win over Jones) is whether it's worth more to fight Pavlik or for undisputed LHW supremacy against a very credible and attractive winner of Tarver/Dawson.
He's shot. His legs are completely gone. I repeat: "Jones hasn't beaten anything close to a world-class opponent at 175 since Clinton Woods. That was six years and two KO defeats ago."
Too many variables. ANy of which could stop this from happening. ****, it could easily be Dawson vs. Tarver. That's a good fight, but no event. The reason Joe C and Jones want it is because it's a super fight. Who cares if they beat Tarver and Dawson. The fight will be big regardless or belts being on the line. WHICH there would be anyway, RING BELT. HBO cares about money NOW. Jones vs. Calzaghe is money. Adding Dawson or Tarver to one of them only makes less money. Besides, didn't we just have 6 of the top 10 175ers fight w/i the last month?
Jones vs. Tarver would get some PPVs, but not as many as Jones vs. Calzaghe. And Calzaghe vs. Dawson would get few in comparison to Calzaghe vs. Jones. The biggest fight for Roy is Calzaghe, and it isn't even close. The biggest fight for Calzaghe is either Pavlik or Jones, depending partially on how Kelly looks against Lockett. For Roy, a setup makes no sense. For Calzaghe, Dawson makes no sense. How I wish that weren't true, but it is.