THE BOXING TRUTH: Where does Jones go after shocking loss to Danny Green?
Written by Beau Denison, Wednesday December 02 2009
Has Roy Jones met his version of Rocky Marciano in Danny Green? In this edition of The Boxing Truth Beau Denison examines possible reaction to Roy Jones’ defeat at hands of Danny Green.
Roy Jones met Danny Green in Sydney, Australia in a twelve round Cruiserweight bout. What was to be a credible tune-up fight with Jones looking forward to a Bernard Hopkins rematch, the results were all too devastating. Jones fell in defeat to Green via technical knockout when Jones could not recover from a devastating right hand to the temple in round one.
It is not uncommon as a boxer ages that their skills that made the boxer great at one point in their career begin to erode. For future hall of famer Roy Jones the question of where he goes from a setback becomes valid. Jones the one time boxing master who was undisputedly considered the best pound for pound fighter in the world for the better part of a decade may now be at the end of his illustrious career.
The consensus among experts and boxing fans alike is that Jones has been on the decline since his shocking loss in his rematch against Antonio Tarver in 2004. Jones the victim of a devastating one punch knockout in the second round. Since that pivotal moment in boxing history the Roy Jones that fans are most familiar has been rarely seen. The Roy Jones that dominated multiple weight divisions with relative ease and the man who won world championships from the 160lb. Middleweight to the Heavyweight division.
Since the devastating loss at the hands of Antonio Tarver Jones compiled a record of 5-4 with 2 Knockouts going into his fight with former two-division world champion Danny Green. Statistics that are far from a numerical reflection of what Jones has accomplished in his illustrious career.
Despite the unfavorable record in his last nine bouts, Jones in recent fights had shown flashes of what makes him a first ballot hall of famer. Flashes of quick hands lateral movement and quick accurate counter punching that made Jones so devastating in his prime. This generated significant interest in Jones potentially fighting fellow future hall of famer Bernard Hopkins in a much anticipated rematch. A rematch that the sport of boxing has been clamoring for since their hotly contested bout 16 years ago. A contest that Jones won via decision but a bout that was very close in the eyes of many.
The potential of the highly anticipated rematch however has simmered down somewhat over time due to Jones’ sudden fall off his perch as the consensus top fighter in the world. Hopkins has had some disputed setbacks in his own right however Hopkins has proven that he is still in the top tier of the best pound for pound in the world by rising from the controversial setbacks to emerge triumphantly. Jones has not been as fortunate…
Despite recent success in winning five of his last six bouts, an argument could be made that Jones’ recent victories came over fighters who ranged from one time contenders to great fighters who are years past their greatness. The basis of this argument could best be illustrated by Jones’ one sided domination of former Multi-division world champion Felix Trinidad and his loss to the legendary Joe Calzaghe.
In the Trinidad bout Jones showed all the characteristics that fans are familiar with from the self-proclaimed “Superman” in his prime. Jones was able to knock the game Trinidad down twice during the twelve round bout and clearly appearing to be the superior fighter from start to finish.
In contrast in the Calzaghe fight Jones looked good early knocking the undefeated former Super-Middleweight champion down in the opening round but failing to capitalize. Calzaghe eventually took control of the fight and out boxed Jones a fighter who appeared for a great portion of his career to be the boxer who out boxed and overwhelmed a majority of his opposition throughout his career. Calzaghe scored a convincing decision over the great Roy Jones.
Although it was obvious for many observers and commentators to look at the battered and defeated Jones and say that this great fighter was past his peak and that it might have been in Jones’ best interest to retire; Jones refused to give up. In one sense it is admirable that a boxer the caliber of Roy Jones despite having seemingly accomplished everything that a fighter could in a career to display the true mentality of a fighter by ignoring the consensus that his best days are behind him and choosing to continue his career with the determination to end on his own terms.
In another sense that may be all too familiar and could potentially put Jones in a category of many notable fighters who may be considered tragic figures. Fighters whom although great and distinguished by many notable accomplishments throughout their careers fought on well past their primes and eventually became damaged. Damaged both in regard to their legacy in the eyes of experts and fans alike but also and perhaps more tragically damaged in regard to their overall well-being whether that well-being be financially or even more importantly physically.
It is truly a tragedy when any fighter whether it be a world champion who has been fortunate to earn millions of dollars throughout their career or a fighter who never really reached their full potential finds themselves facing a fight of a different sort. A fight that few fighters have experienced and fought to emerge victorious. The fight of squandering their wealth and at times personal and professional relationships to eventually end up with nothing. Even more tragic when a fighter has to fight that battle while suffering the physical repercussions of their career.
Although many have expressed concern for Jones’ well-being, he has continued to forge forward with his career. As I said Jones had enjoyed a recent surge in success in recent bouts. This seemed to rekindle interest in the potential of a rematch with Bernard Hopkins. A rematch that one might argue that although Hopkins would be seeking to avenge his narrow loss in the original meeting that it is a rematch that Jones needed more than Hopkins. A rematch that if he were successful Jones could re-establish his legacy. With contracts tentatively signed and a date for early next year seemingly etched in stone for the rematch to finally take place, Jones took what many would consider a tune-up fight against former two-division world champion Danny Green of Australia. Many considered this bout a tune up for Jones simply due to the popular Australian brawler having limited exposure in the United States despite the fact that Green has won two world titles in two weight classes in his career.
The perceived notion of a would be tune up for Jones might be echoed best in the fact that Jones agreed to travel to Australia to meet Green on Green’s home turf. The fight was widely considered the biggest in the history of Australia due to Jones legendary status and Green’s overwhelming popularity in the land down under. Although many and perhaps even Jones himself considered this bout to be a mere tune-up for the considerably more lucrative rematch with Hopkins, for Danny Green this was a fight that he wanted and needed to legitimize himself on the global stage and more specifically in America.
When the two fighters got into the ring what would happen would be the definition of what makes the sport of boxing great… In what may be considered among the sport’s biggest upsets, Green floored Jones in the opening round with a right hand that landed on Jones’ temple. Jones gamely made it to his feet but Green sensing that he had the legend in trouble went in for the kill. Green pounced on Jones with a flurry of punches that had Jones covering up against the ropes and not adequately defending himself. The shocking events were etched in stone when Referee Howard Foster stepped in to rescue the great Jones from further punishment. A technical knockout for Green of the legendary Roy Jones in the first round.
A truly shocking turn of events and a prime example why when it comes to the sport of boxing the only thing one should expect is to expect the unexpected… Green KO’s Jones!
A potentially historic moment in the sport of boxing. Potentially historic depending on what will happen coming out of this fight. For Green the sky seems to be the limit after scoring the biggest and perhaps the most devastating victory of his career. Green might now look to come to the United States and use the notoriety off his shocking knockout of Jones to seek more lucrative bouts.
The more intriguing question however is where Roy Jones could possibly go from such a humiliating defeat? Although contracts are signed for the rematch with Bernard Hopkins one has to assume that the potential clash is in serious jeopardy.
As an observer who has witnessed the rise and fall of many great fighters I come out of this fight feeling that I have seen the end of another great career. Although the instinct of a fighter may over time re-emerge in Jones and he might have the ambition to attempt to defy observers and fans alike by attempting to rise from this the most devastating of setbacks, It could be a mistake. I believe that it would show just how great a fighter Roy Jones is by Jones himself recognizing that even the greatest of fighters reach the inevitable end of the road.
It will preserve Jones’ legacy if he can do what is truly rare for any fighter to do. Walk away from the ring with all his faculties in tact and thus, allowing the dominance of his prime to live on as his true legacy. If Jones cannot accomplish the rarity of walking away the sport of boxing may suffer.
Boxing can ill afford to lose the image of one of it’s greatest ambassadors of the sweet science. Roy Jones truly is one of Boxing history’s greatest. He has nothing left to prove and to risk all that he has accomplished and potential injury could only be considered foolish.
Roy you’re great! The boxing fans love you! Believe me! Roy it’s time…
And That’s The Boxing Truth.
Tags:
Leave a comment
Not So Fast! To publish your comment, you have to login
Not Registered? Register now as it only take 20 seconds!
Click here to browse
1 comment
Please sign in to rate!
Well said Mr. Denison, well said... How do you convince athletes who have made a living by defeating the odds and never "quitting" to quit the one thing that has rewarded them so much during their "athletic lifetime"? A boxer builds his will with every victory and erodes the facade of invincibility with every loss. Roy's chin should remain held high for the amazing memories he gave the boxing fans around the world. We cannot afford to see another of our heroes hurt in the ring. We love you Roy!