realkaps
09-24-2004, 05:50 PM
Roy talks Tarver, Hopkins, Klitschko and Toney
By Anthony Evans in Memphis: Roy Jones Junior insists he isn't looking past Saturday's defending IBF light-heavyweight champion Glen Johnson but, with the media bombarding him with questions about potential rematches with Antonio Tarver, Bernard Hopkins and James Toney, the Florida quicksilver had to say something.
And say something he did.
Looking and sounding happy and relaxed at the final press conference ahead of his comeback fight at the FedEx Forum here in Memphis, Jones (who turned up on time and was a delight to speak with) said he plans on significantly adding to his already astounding achievements before he eventually retires.
"This is about Roy's legacy," he said. "It starts with Glen Johnson and then I want three men, Tarver, Hopkins and Vitali Klitschko. They're three men I'm not supposed to fight right now but that's why I'll fight them.
"With Klitschko, I'm not supposed to go back up to heavyweight. People say I went to heavyweight and beat a guy who wasn't that good (John Ruiz for the WBA belt in March of 2003) but who else has beat Ruiz? Hasim Rahman couldn't, Evander Holyfield couldn't - but I did even though I was giving up (a lot of weight). If someone else had done that it would have been the best thing ever, Roy Jones does it and it was easy anyway."
Jones, 35, clearly believes he isn't getting the props his record demands.
"Take Hopkins v De La Hoya," he said, getting more and more animated. "Hopkins has now beat two guys (the other being Felix Trinidad) who had to come up from welterweight. I have to go up to light-heavyweight and
heavyweight and fight better guys. Hopkins fights smaller guys. But I beat Hopkins - who's beat him since? I'll fight Hopkins at 168lbs and the fight will go the same. But this time he'll have to come up in weight.
"Tarver? Who he gonna fight? Everywhere he goes it's 'Roy Jones, Roy Jones.' He can't fight no-body else but me.
"Tell Tarver to go fight James Toney. That way they both got something to do. I know Toney has been saying this, saying that, but I won't just give him a fight. I like James, you'll laugh, but I do like him a lot. But I won't just do this for him. If he beats Tarver or wins a heavyweight title belt they we got a fight. Until then, nah."
So, Roy is back and he's got plenty of options in big fights. Finally, one reporter - who hadn't really been paying attention - asked if, in the hours and weeks after the knockout loss to Tarver, retirement had been entertained as an option.
Jones laughed: "Retire? I'm too good at this to go."
By Anthony Evans in Memphis: Roy Jones Junior insists he isn't looking past Saturday's defending IBF light-heavyweight champion Glen Johnson but, with the media bombarding him with questions about potential rematches with Antonio Tarver, Bernard Hopkins and James Toney, the Florida quicksilver had to say something.
And say something he did.
Looking and sounding happy and relaxed at the final press conference ahead of his comeback fight at the FedEx Forum here in Memphis, Jones (who turned up on time and was a delight to speak with) said he plans on significantly adding to his already astounding achievements before he eventually retires.
"This is about Roy's legacy," he said. "It starts with Glen Johnson and then I want three men, Tarver, Hopkins and Vitali Klitschko. They're three men I'm not supposed to fight right now but that's why I'll fight them.
"With Klitschko, I'm not supposed to go back up to heavyweight. People say I went to heavyweight and beat a guy who wasn't that good (John Ruiz for the WBA belt in March of 2003) but who else has beat Ruiz? Hasim Rahman couldn't, Evander Holyfield couldn't - but I did even though I was giving up (a lot of weight). If someone else had done that it would have been the best thing ever, Roy Jones does it and it was easy anyway."
Jones, 35, clearly believes he isn't getting the props his record demands.
"Take Hopkins v De La Hoya," he said, getting more and more animated. "Hopkins has now beat two guys (the other being Felix Trinidad) who had to come up from welterweight. I have to go up to light-heavyweight and
heavyweight and fight better guys. Hopkins fights smaller guys. But I beat Hopkins - who's beat him since? I'll fight Hopkins at 168lbs and the fight will go the same. But this time he'll have to come up in weight.
"Tarver? Who he gonna fight? Everywhere he goes it's 'Roy Jones, Roy Jones.' He can't fight no-body else but me.
"Tell Tarver to go fight James Toney. That way they both got something to do. I know Toney has been saying this, saying that, but I won't just give him a fight. I like James, you'll laugh, but I do like him a lot. But I won't just do this for him. If he beats Tarver or wins a heavyweight title belt they we got a fight. Until then, nah."
So, Roy is back and he's got plenty of options in big fights. Finally, one reporter - who hadn't really been paying attention - asked if, in the hours and weeks after the knockout loss to Tarver, retirement had been entertained as an option.
Jones laughed: "Retire? I'm too good at this to go."