One view of Roy Jones...

Vlad... you have to understand the life of a fighter... number one the gym wars are much tougher overall down the stretch than the fights.... and wehter it is wars , tough figths or simple boxing exhibitions the fact is that RJ was involved in the sport of boxing throughout that time period on the highest levels in the ring and out while Antonio was not. Mentally that is a tough load, to stay sharp likethat for along time. It is not any type of excuse, it is an explanation, a reason It's not an explanation or a reason why he got his ass beat in that third fight. That's my only beef with roy. Been a fan of his even after he got knocked out twice but that third fight and the way he performed was disappointing. Tarver wasn't at his best either so it was an even fight. With two guys both looking tired you have to suck it up and win the most important fight of you career and he didn't even try. He was just happy to go 12 rounds with tarver and made excuses later on that he lost because of his father. That's bullshyte One more thing: the reason roy lost against Glen johnson and Tarver in the third fight is not because he is sooooo past his prime that he can't compete on a high level anymore, it's because ROy got punch-shy.. After that embarissing KO against tarver he got shy to throw meaningful punches fearing he might get caught again. True story

Good read Ice & very honest. Alot of posters & other people have been hard on him since his fall from the top. I'm glad to see you put things in perspective when it comes to RJ. I look forward to getting your book as well.

Vlad... you have to understand the life of a fighter... number one the gym wars are much tougher overall down the stretch than the fights.... and wehter it is wars , tough figths or simple boxing exhibitions the fact is that RJ was involved in the sport of boxing throughout that time period on the highest levels in the ring and out while Antonio was not. Mentally that is a tough load, to stay sharp likethat for along time. It is not any type of excuse, it is an explanation, a reason

One thing to consider, though... RJ was boxing at a very high level as an amateur from at least when he won the National JO's in 1984 (at 119 pounds) all the way until he fought Antonio in 2004. Thats a SOLID 20 years of non-stop training, sparring, running, pressure,etc etc. Antonio didnt even make it big in the amateurs until 1994 or 1995 after Roy had quite afew pro fights and was inhis prime... then Ant went pro in 1997... when Roy was already a pro for EIGHT full years. So they were the same age only in actuality, not in boxing terms. While you do make a great point it still sounds like an excuse to me. You could only use that explanation with guys like barrera or Morales who have been in actual wars and blood and guts battles. You add the training, sparring, running, pressure as you said and they're used up and washed up in their early 30's ready to retire. Roy on the other hand hasn't been in any wars in that ring. He only had a few difficult fights and even then he didn't get beat up. He was basically a dominant fighter prior to meeting tarver in that ring so all the stuff you listed can't be used. Besides it's not like tarver benefited from not fighting for as long as roy has. The guy was doing drugs during his amateur days for god sake. What kind of an advantage does a fighter have if he turns pro in his late 20's (besides the heavyweights) and gets his first title shot in his mid 30's like tarver did? I'm sorry Roy is great but he blew it vs tarver. You can't excuse that

If roy was past his prime in those fights vs tarver then so was tarver and he still beat roy's ass. Glen johnson is an old fighter also. You're the one that's a hypocrite One thing to consider, though... RJ was boxing at a very high level as an amateur from at least when he won the National JO's in 1984 (at 119 pounds) all the way until he fought Antonio in 2004. Thats a SOLID 20 years of non-stop training, sparring, running, pressure,etc etc. Antonio didnt even make it big in the amateurs until 1994 or 1995 after Roy had quite afew pro fights and was inhis prime... then Ant went pro in 1997... when Roy was already a pro for EIGHT full years. So they were the same age only in actuality, not in boxing terms.

duran didn't have a credible win past barkley when he was 37. after that no credible victoriues. and you're saying duran had over 100 fights so did roy. Duran didn't fight in the amateurs so alot of thos pro-victories were against young guys like himself. I am not comparing them point for point in their careers. So it doesn't matter. Duran is a warrior and roy is not, plain and simple. duran didn't win the ray leoanrd trilogy nor did he avenge any of his ko losses, so why have a double standard:ugh: This wasn't a comparison to between duran and jones. I was just stating that guys like robinson and duran were warriors who fought alot in their prime and past their prime. and that's where the hypocrisy comes in. if you think of guys losing after they are prime I can make a huge list of of them. roy can't do what he did when he was 20 or even 30 So I don't expect him to come back and avenge every defeat like he is a superman. judge him fairly like you do leonard, duran, hagler, and hearns Wrong roy can still do alot of what he did when he was younger. Prime wise he is still better then 99.9% of the guys his age that are around or were around still fighting. Tarver is the same damn age as roy jones man, you can't use the age exuse for roy if tarver is the same damn age. If roy was past his prime in those fights vs tarver then so was tarver and he still beat roy's ass. Glen johnson is an old fighter also. You're the one that's a hypocrite

Will the first volume be published in some stores and locations, or will it be online, or what will be the plan? Being honest, I've only been into boxing for a couple years, so I hadn't heard of you, but I checked up your career and It's one to be proud of. I find your insights and comments always informative so I'd definitly like to read what you've put a lot of effort into. I plan to sell each volume online (unless something major comes my way). I think I have developed enough of a base of interested readers where I can do that. Boxing and its fans are closely connected with the dawn of the internet.... I would imagine a very high percentage of boxing fans read fightnews, and the others, and if that's true then one or two mentions on there and, presto, the word is out. I appreciate the words and I hope you find the finished product as intereting as the blips I've put up about it. Thanks

why shouyld roy try and avenge his ko's, I mean duran never did so why should roy. by the way great take on roy iceman..where do you have him all-time Yes and Duran had also over a 100 wins. Guys like Robinson and Duran have Warrior status added to their resume for fighting way past their best and still managing to get some credible wins. All roy is doing is fighting every 8 months as usual trying to sell his PPV as The great Roy jones vs some guy as usual. The one time where he gets knocked out and you have a potential of a triology like morales and Barrera he blows it saying he was just bored with boxing discrediting tarvers win and coasting for 12 rounds in the third clowning around as usual except this time he was losing. He gets no credit from me on that one and I am a fan of his. He had a chance to win that triology and retire on his own terms and he didn't. And let's not forget Tarver is his age. Unlike Ali he didn't fight a younger Larry Holmes getting his ass beat he fought an old guy like himself. No excuses for that

After Roy jones beats Tito Trinidad, he should persue a fight with Glen Johnson once more and try to avenge that horrible loss. That's the only fight that I'm interested in that has Roy jones in it. Jones vs Tarver 4? I don't think so. He blew that one coasting for 12 rounds trying to play it safe in his most important fight. Losing a triology definitely hurts his legacy no matter how you slice it because he could have won that fight. He still had enough physical tools to beat tarver in the third fight but he lost his courage to engage tarver and risk getting Knocked out again.

If u sent me your address then I definitely sent an autograph. Send it again if you didn't receive one yet. Also, as far as my book and that chapter on RJ...I am glad you like dit and you will be happy know that you only read a small part of it. I have a bunch more stuff in the finished version of it. I am actually turning my book into THREE books (I have too much content for one!!)and the first Volume wil be done relatively soon. Keep in touch with me and I will update you Will the first volume be published in some stores and locations, or will it be online, or what will be the plan? Being honest, I've only been into boxing for a couple years, so I hadn't heard of you, but I checked up your career and It's one to be proud of. I find your insights and comments always informative so I'd definitly like to read what you've put a lot of effort into.

If u sent me your address then I definitely sent an autograph. Send it again if you didn't receive one yet. Also, as far as my book and that chapter on RJ...I am glad you like dit and you will be happy know that you only read a small part of it. I have a bunch more stuff in the finished version of it. I am actually turning my book into THREE books (I have too much content for one!!)and the first Volume wil be done relatively soon. Keep in touch with me and I will update you

Good freaking ish iceman, hey where is my autograph budd.

I think Roy should have retired after beating Tarver back in November 2003. But like most fighters he got suckered into continuing for money and further glory. I don't think Roy should fight into his 40's, he should hang the gloves up after next year. He had a great career. Griffin/Jones II was incredible...

great stuff Ice, honest and well written.

Good Stuff there. Very true about the part of accepting the fact that we can not do things as we once did. Roy is not the first all time great to fall into this trap and he won't be the last. I would like to believe he is not doing it for money but more as Iceman stated for the fact he just does not want to accept his not being the fighter he once was. Either way though lets hope he does not end up getting one of those serious KO's that damage a guy for the rest of his life

Great take ICE MAN!!!!good shit

that was some good stuff. i agree.

Most people refer to people's "prime" or a fighter's best when comparing to other fighters. Lots of fighters fight on too long; if Holyfield gets Larry Donalled against Ibragimov, it doesn't diminish his fights vs. Moorer, Tyson, Bowe But fighters should only try to please fans to a point. Why cut off what you love doing for a bunch of people you haven't met and how they view your "legacy"