By Mark Vester
There have been dozens of emails coming in from readers who were curious on who Teddy Atlas picked to win this coming Saturday when Roy Jones Jr. takes on Joe Calzaghe in New York's Madison Square Garden. Atlas, trainer and boxing analyst ESPN's Friday Night Fights series, has a history of going with the underdog. Once again, Atlas sides with the underdog and picks Jones' experience to overcome the high-volume of punching that Calzaghe pumps out.
"(Jones) has seen plenty of southpaws. He has a size edge and he’s been at (175 pounds) longer. Jones matches Calzaghe’s hand speed. He punches better, so he has the edge there. Mentally, he’s confident. He’s always been a careful fighter. Coming off those knockout losses, his confidence was at a lull. Jones has experience. Calzaghe is a step on the other side of his career as well," Atlas said to the Nevada Appeal .
He knows Calzaghe's plan is going to be to outwork Jones, but that's where Superman Roy will takes his chances.
“Jones is not known as a big puncher. He’s very careful and doesn’t take a lot of chances. The thought in the Calzaghe camp is he’ll outwork and outhustle Jones. I see the thinking in that area. (But) Jones is a better puncher and won’t be intimidated by Calzaghe’s power. He’ll see an opportunity while Calzaghe is trying to outwork him,” Atlas said.
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