By Cliff Rold

Everyone and everything grows old but God.  Even those that once appeared near God-like in their realm can’t escape the inevitability of it all.  The American myth of Superman turns 70 in 2008 and, in ring terms, former multi-division titlists Roy Jones and Felix Trinidad might well be older than that number.  Their combined age surpasses it and, unlike creatures of fiction, their age limits the potential for reinvention.

When they step into the ring on Saturday night, in front of those who paid the exorbitant full ticket prices to be there, those who paid the recently slashed ticket prices, and everyone else, Jones (51-4, 38 KO) will be 39 and Trinidad (42-2, 35 KO) will be 35.  Each won their first major title almost 15 years ago, in 1993, and they are far removed from those days.  The story that will be spun in the moments and days after the final bell tolls for this showdown is a story of redemption, of one man or the other having stamped his foot in defiance of time.

Time will know better.

Time has not yet erased though what is known of what these fighters once were.  In breaking down the various elements of this fight, Tito’s lack of activity over almost three years leaves memory to dictate what we might expect.  Roy’s last two fights, against Badi Ajamu and Anthony Hanshaw, give better clues.  Let’s go to the report card.

Speed:   This one is a no-brainer.  Roy was always faster than Tito, on any day of either man’s career, and that should hold true Saturday night.  In fact, one thing that has stood out through the travails Roy has experienced since defeating John Ruiz at Heavyweight in 2003 is that his hands have remained among the games fastest even if they have slowed from what his own peak was.  Tito was never a speed guy but he had some quickness of his own and, more important, timing.  At his best, in bouts against Oba Carr in 1994 and Pernell Whitaker in 1999, Trinidad was able to time his jab and measuring lead right hands to create openings for his rapier left hook.   Those fights, of course, were long ago.  The last time anyone saw Tito in the ring, his snap and timing flatlined against one Winky Wright.  It’s hard to figure that he’s rediscovered those things with three years off.  Pre-Fight Grades: Jones A-; Trinidad B-

Power:   The size of the combatants is a factor here.  In their best weight classes, Tito and Roy had comparable power.  Head to head, the power edge probably goes to the man thought of as more the boxer.  Forgotten as his career progressed and he became comfortable being elusive in place of dangerous, Roy was once among the games most lethal punchers.  He was, in fact, more likely than Tito to score the one-punch knockout.  Tito had his shocking power moments (ask William Joppy or Fernando Vargas), but rarely anything like Jones’ stoppages of Virgil Hill, Thomas Tate and Montell Griffin.  That was then.  Jones hasn’t scored a stoppage in the seven fights and many years that have passed since defeating future titlist Clinton Woods in 2002; the closest he’s come was a single knockdown of the much younger Anthony Hanshaw in his last bout.  Tito hasn’t fought since 2005 but did stop five of his last seven opponents; none of those opponents was bigger than a Middleweight and no one knows what power he’ll carry at this catchweight of 170 lbs.  Let’s assume he can hit at least as hard as Glen Johnson.  Pre-Fight Report Card: Jones B; Trinidad B

Defense:   Among those who fear this fight could be headed to a one-sided, dull decision for Jones, this category is the deciding factor.  His power and speed could produce awe in the best of times, but it was Jones defense that kept him near the peak of the sport for so long.  At his best, he could stand along the ropes, picking off shots and slipping from side to side, even against men with decent hand speed.  Tito was never a defensive wizard.  He was effective at blocking shots with his gloves and arms, but his best defensive work was often mental, supplying so much pressure that opponents would make mistakes that left them open to be hit.  Jones defensive skills extended his beating against Glen Johnson, kept him in the rubber match with Tarver, and allowed him to overwhelm lesser lights in Ajamu and Hanshaw.  Tito got hit too much against Mayorga and way too much against Wright.  Pre-Fight Report Card: Jones A-; Trinidad C+

Intangibles:   Both men have had moments that displayed heart and character in their careers.  Tito has had more of them.  If there is anyplace where Tito can claim an edge, this is it.  Jones dug deep into his guts to will himself past Tarver in their first bout.  Tito is well chronicled for numerous trips to the deck, back to his feet, and on to the winners circle.  No one has ever seen Tito quit.  Jones, on the other hand, has struggled in some moments of adversity.  He openly admitted to not going all out in the third Tarver fight.  In his first loss, Montell Griffin frustrated him so badly that he ultimately was disqualified for hitting Griffin when he was down.  Jones chin is also a factor here.  While Tito has been down more often, Jones has been brutally stopped twice and was dramatically hurt by Tarver in their third bout with an eleventh round shot that made Roy’s eyes cross in different directions.  His advantages in speed, power and defense probably prevent Tito from landing a hard shot, but if they don’t can he survive it?  Pre- Fight Report Card: Jones B; Trinidad A- 

Overall Report Card Advantage: Jones B+; Trinidad B

Like most fights between men whose names retain more value than their bodies, the real story here is that one man will get another day and, more importantly, another check.  It would be nice to think that each has a fair chance to emerge victorious here, but honesty requires the mind to go to the obvious: Roy Jones Jr. should win this fight.  Even at 39; even having been knocked out violently twice; even without a notable win since the first bout with Antonio Tarver in 2003; Roy Jones should win this fight. 

Big. 

The heart often overrules the mind and such was likely the heartfelt hope of Don King Productions in putting this show together.  By putting the bout inside the hallowed ground of Madison Square Garden, Tito’s turf, there is the hope that up until the first bell the Puerto Rican faithful will believe.  And spend.

That doesn’t mean Trinidad has zero chance.  To the contrary, this may be a case where conventional wisdom is unwise.  A long fight appears to favor Jones, but it may actually favor Tito because, the longer it goes, the more opportunities Tito will have to land the one big shot he’ll be looking for.  Given Jones chin issues in recent years, one big shot might be all Trinidad needs.

It’s never a good sign when a fight hinges on the “if” of a single blow.

At the end of the day, this is a bout between a formerly top-flight Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight and one of the great Light Heavyweights of all time.  Even aged, that difference should count for a lot.  If these two had fought when first whispered about in 2001, I’d have said Jones by KO, probably in 3 or less.  Today, in 2008, I say Jones by KO, probably in 3 or less.

If these two meet up again on some long from now day in heaven and Tito is flown into the ring on the wings and blessings of the angel Gabriel, I say Jones by KO, probably in 3 or less.

Cliff Notes…

I’ve certainly had plenty to say about this bout this week, but there have been plenty of other things to talk about in the sport as well.  Here’s a look at Cliff’s Notes for the last week on:

Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them. 

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com .