Without much speed or reactions, Jones is a pretty mediocre fighter

You can use the words "ridiculous" and "****ing" as much as you like; it doesn't make your argument better.

Hopkins didn't have considerably better legs than Jones (v. Calzaghe), and he certainly didn't have Jones' speed and reactions, yet he was much better.

Jones didn't show much heart, no. Not compared to what Hopkins and Calzaghe have showed. He just took a beating, without trying anything, except going for a big punch late on. Disappointed.

 

No, he didn't...he won the first round and one more at best, that's it, and if he had had Calzaghe's speed, reactions and stamina, he'd have still lost the fight.

 

Sure, just as per usual, since you are by far the most intelligent, knowledgeable and objective guy here...how lucky of us to have you around to throw abuse our way, oh, Great One!

 

Take away Calzaghe's speed and stamina, his two main physical qualities, and what are you left with? A slower fighter, who throws less, but still a fighter with great ring intelligence, who keeps great distance, with very good defence, very adaptable, a great tactician with a great heart who will give his all to try and turn a fight around, no matter how hurt or far behind. He would still be a great fighter.

Take away Hopkins power and stamina, and we saw what a great fighter he still was. His feet weren't as strong as they were in his prime, but his footwork was better. He wasn't on his toes anymore, because he just didn't have it, instead, he was more economical, and every step was perfectly calculated to give him the best advantage in terms of positioning and distance. His speed or power weren't the same, but he compensated with striking at the right time, after setting his opponent up - still effective! His stamina wasn't the same, so he used his bag of tricks to stay in the fight; he clinched and held, he took brakes simply by positioning himself in such a way that his opponent thought he was going to strike, and thus avoided him. He compensated with greater defence, greater intelligence and ring-craft....He came with plans A,B,C,D to the fight, and used them all, to the best of his abilities.

Jones? What has he learned during his time in boxing, to compensate for the great loss of speed and reactions? Better defence? No. He covered up and stood there like a punching bag...that was his defence.

Ring-generalship? There was none.

Tactics? He came with plan A and B: to find that one big punch to take Calzaghe out with and to counterpunch him effectively. Soon, he realised he couldn't counterpunch him that effectively, so he was left with having to KO him...even e.g. Diaconu could have come up with those tactics!

How did he buy time or save energy? In the worst possible way - standing there to take it like a punching bag.

No great distance, no great footwork, no nothing.

Heart? Was he prepared to die in there to try and win? Far from it. He gave up and just conforted himself with the thought he was going to not get stopped. Calzaghe wasn't hurting him that much, though...it wasn't that great an achievement.

Now...I didn't expect Jones would win. I knew he was badly faded or shot. BUT...if you sign to fight Calzaghe, you come with a plan, knowing that you will have to go through hell to win. You use all your intelligence and craft and all else you've got to try and compensate for what you lack...

I expected Jones to show me he is still a great fighter, by trying to dominate and beat Calzaghe in as little as the first minute of every round, for no longer than 8-9 rounds. I didn't expect more. Give it all you have to show how good you are and then...who cares if you get stopped, because you're completely spent? Instead, he soon went into survival mode and did nothing. Heart? Heart was what Lacy showed, and Lacy didn't stop giving everything he had until the very last moment. Heart was what Kessler showed, going for the KO in the last round. Heart was what Hopkins had, who didn't quit at the end, after he realised he was beaten. Jones short-changed us in the "gave all he had" department. He could at least have done that. I'm not saying he quit, he didn't, but he didn't give all he had. Or, at least, if that was all he had, why the hell did he sign to fight Calzaghe? Should have gone back to fighting Hanshaw.

Jones has won 3 points against Calzaghe. The last time someone won 3 points or less against him was when he fought Manfredo, and the time before that was when he fought Lacy. Bika, Kessler, Hopkins all did much better. Jones took this fight for money, it seems, just like Tarver took the Dawson fight. He should retire.

Calzaghe? Who is there out there for him to fight anymore? Only Hopkins in a rematch in which I'm confident both would perform better than last time around. No one else. Dawson? Don't make me laugh.