After Bernard "the Executioner" Hopkins once again proved boxing scribes (present company included) wrong last we
ek against Kelly Pavlik, Roy Jones, Jr. (52-4, 38 KO) had to be watching and thinking, "I’m next." He has to realize that IF he beats the favored Joe Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KO) on November 8, the long-awaited rematch (16 years to be exact) between he and the "X" would be set up perfectly.
However, before anyone starts reminiscing over Jones’s and Hopkins’s arguments over their purse split (who can forget Roy taunting "B-Hop" by shouting, "60/40 and I’ll whip dat azz!"), the "Pride of Wales (Calzaghe)" will have a little something to say about that in their upcoming light heavyweight championship fight. That’s why I capitalized the IF in the first sentence of this article.
It will be interesting to see how Calzaghe fares against a fighter that probably has faster hands and punches harder, and may even be physically stronger. Don’t get me wrong, Jones’s edges in these categories are not huge, especially at this stage of his career, but it will make for interesting theater. In Calzaghe, Jones will be facing the quickest and strongest fighter that he has fought since – you guessed it, Bernard Hopkins nearly two decades ago.
Calzaghe narrowly outpointed Hopkins earlier this year, clearing the path to Jones. Jones battered Felix Trinidad this year for the right to meet Calzaghe. No matter what happens on November 8, Hopkins will likely be in line for a rematch against the winner. The question is, who will that be?
Despite the Hopkins Effect, Expect Jones to Lose a Close Decision to Calzaghe. However, if I were a betting man …
Roy’s so far over the hill he’s forgotten what the view looks like at the top of the summit. Here think Glen Johnson-Roy Jones with Roy being seriously hurt somewhere between the 8th and 10th Rounds.Jones will lay on the ropes too much and absorb punishment.Also his handspeed and power have diminshed substantially with Joe being a lot closer to his Prime and much,much better recent resume against bigger & stronger men.
DARREN,
Interesting comparison to the Glenn Johnson fight; however, it was obvious that Roy took that fight WAAAY to soon after his 2nd round KTFO (Knocked The Fugg Out) loss to Tarver only about 6 mos. prior to that. I actually think that RJJ being somewhat far-removed from his debilitating losses to Tarver and Johnson, will make him look re-energized. I could be wrong; I just don’t think what I have seen from Joe Calzaghe as of late would lead to a knockout win for the younger man. He doesn’t sit down on his punches like he used to, and Roy does a decent job of covering up from soft flurries…if Joe throws less, but harder shots (which he says that he will do), he may be able to stun or hurt Roy BUT that would also leave him open to be countered and possibly stunned himself. Let’s not forget – the old, hesitant version of Hopkins floored him when he was being over-aggressive early in their fight. That being said, I think Calzaghe will win, but feel that Jones is a VERY live underdog.
I’ll keep it short and sweet – Calzaghe in a decision over RJJ in a dull, clinch-filled fight. In boxing, heavyweights are the only athletes that have shown the ability to get more fierce with age. RJJ had been on the down slope and avoiding trouble for quite some time before he got KTFO.
Calzaghe is still in his boxing prime and in the figher’s mindstate, RJJ took time off to be a commentator, I think his fighting spirit has vanished.
Jones has said his inspiration is Barack Obama. (Seriously.) But you have to think an old dude looking for inspiration from a fellow old dude would look to B-Hop, old rival or no.
Tim, that’s a good point, and very funny. I think B-Hop has inspired him too, he just won’t admit it. 😉