Roy Jones Jr. fans were not let down last night...

http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/image.php?u=8215&dateline=1237755593 Omar Sheika is a D class fighter... this was not a good win. But as we see our fighter slowly fade into non-existence, we still have that small hope... maybe OLD Roy will show up, and show us what he used to be able to do... we missed the double left hooks, the straight right hands and uppercuts... the odd angled 4 punch combinations... the punches that made you say "are you serious?"... 4 hooks in one second, rib breaking body shots, wind up wind mill punches, chicken moves... It sucked seeing him lately lay on the ropes against C class fighters in Ajamu and Hanshaw... he didn't bring the fight anymore.. he didnt let his hands go..He looked reluctant in the first few Trinidad rounds... in the Calzaghe fight, finally everyone came to the realization... that is it. The killer instinct seemed obsolete, and as a fighter... that is detrimental. But last night something seemed completely different. For the first time in a LONG time... Roy looked comfortable.. he was at home, he had his trainer and his father back in his corner..he looked hyped, excited, eager... he looked determined, to put whatever ability he STILL had.. out there for his fans. That is all we can ask for... and that is exactly what he gave us. From the opening bell, Roy did something I havent seen since 2003... He came forward, he let his hands go... and he didnt stop letting his hands go. He got put into a corner, and spun his way out of it... he used 20 jabs a round, double left hooks... jabs with right hands... body shots... fought off the ropes, put pressure on.. counter punched. He did this for 5 rounds... consistently, and didnt even have his mouth open... didnt look tired, like he wanted to be there all night.. My thoughts on Roys future plans are what they have been for the last 5 years... reluctance with a little bit of hope.. I really have no opinion on what he still can do... Against Joe I thought he would perform WAYYYY better than he did... and at this point against Sheika.. he performed wayyyy better then what I honestly thought he had left... I have no feelings on future fights... I dont know right now, and I don't care.. I am just appreciative of him giving us all a little remembrance of what he used to do in his prime, and as a Roy fan it was a good feeling to see, no matter who it was against. Omar Sheika is a D class fighter... this was not a good win. But, it so most definitely was.

Comments (20)

Roy still looked blazing fast. Of course not as fast as a prime Roy, but then again that guy had the fastest hands on the planet! YALL! MUSTA FORGOT!

17y ago

THE_REED

i thought roy was very entertaining in that win, i only didnt like the odd stoppage but it wasnt roys fault Yeah I wish it went on longer :rofl:

17y ago

MissDeeCole

i thought roy was very entertaining in that win, i only didnt like the odd stoppage but it wasnt roys fault

17y ago

THE_REED

No...I'm spooked because Nikolay Valuev looked faster than Sheika. The fact that he was caught with his hands down (still making cardinal mistakes) twice in a row speaks volumes. But oh well...as long as he keeps fighting heavy bags it won't come back to hurt him. I agree about his hands being low.. but he doesnt just do it for the sake... he does it to set traps... and as the traps begin to work, he does it more...

17y ago

IMDAZED

Its only shocking to when you see roy get hit, because he never used to at all.. but in reality, he still doesnt get hit THAT much... the fact you were eeked by two left hooks landing, says it all... No...I'm spooked because Nikolay Valuev looked faster than Sheika. The fact that he was caught with his hands down (still making cardinal mistakes) twice in a row speaks volumes. But oh well...as long as he keeps fighting heavy bags it won't come back to hurt him.

17y ago

Truth8215

17y ago

Truth8215

Ya think? I'm not sure... what?.......

17y ago

THE_REED

17y ago

IMDAZED

Well Lou Del Valle knocked him down in 98. And Sheika barley hit him, Ajamu had Roy shook in the first round. He didnt look confident against Hanshaw. As soon as the Hanshaw fight started he layed on the ropes and let Hanshaw punch him. And also his combos wern't as fast and he didn't throw alot of combos. I've already said on numerous occasions that I don't think Roy Jones Jr. is back. How can anyone be back at 40 years old? Its not possible. All I said was, he looked really good for a change in the way he performed. At 37 against a shit fighter like Ajamu, he should have been able to have done the same thing. And also against Hanshaw, those guys are better than Sheika but they are not light years better than sheika.(IMO). So it was surprising that Roy at 40 years old was as fast, energetic, and threw as many combos as he did. I didn't expect that, because hes still 40 years old. Its not a great win, I never said it was. But it was surprising that Roy still was able to resemble his old self in the way he fought. He hasn't done that in a longggg time. I don't think he can beat top fighters in their primes anymore. Ya think? I'm not sure...

17y ago

Truth8215

I don't know if I am. But anyway, I felt really strange watching Jones Saturday night. He was very confident and let his hands go freely but, then again, he did the same against Hanshaw. Only Hanshaw threw back. And the fact that Sheika managed two land two clean left hooks on Jones' grill (while Jones had his hands down) signals to me that this story is going to end badly. Sad :( Well Lou Del Valle knocked him down in 98. And Sheika barley hit him, Ajamu had Roy shook in the first round. He didnt look confident against Hanshaw. As soon as the Hanshaw fight started he layed on the ropes and let Hanshaw punch him. And also his combos wern't as fast and he didn't throw alot of combos. I've already said on numerous occasions that I don't think Roy Jones Jr. is back. How can anyone be back at 40 years old? Its not possible. All I said was, he looked really good for a change in the way he performed. At 37 against a shit fighter like Ajamu, he should have been able to have done the same thing. And also against Hanshaw, those guys are better than Sheika but they are not light years better than sheika.(IMO). So it was surprising that Roy at 40 years old was as fast, energetic, and threw as many combos as he did. I didn't expect that, because hes still 40 years old. Its not a great win, I never said it was. But it was surprising that Roy still was able to resemble his old self in the way he fought. He hasn't done that in a longggg time. I don't think he can beat top fighters in their primes anymore.

17y ago

Kris_Silver

I'll be honest I haven't even seen the fight yet I watched Vitali. But I did think Roy would look a lot better, as I'm sure did we all given it's a much lesser opponent. I am left feeling 40% the same as post Hopkins as a Calzaghe fan however, in that most insisted Hopkins was way past prime and Jone pure shot, and I've always refused to believe that even as fans of there's. There is a small element of, I told you he wasn't quite as past it as you made out. Plus it's only making my man to left look better, aswell as those two guys whom I am fans of and want to see close there careers out well as they deserve. Jones can still beat SOME top guys and I think he should if it's the right fight.

17y ago

IMDAZED

your taking what i'm saying and turning it into something else...... I don't know if I am. But anyway, I felt really strange watching Jones Saturday night. He was very confident and let his hands go freely but, then again, he did the same against Hanshaw. Only Hanshaw threw back. And the fact that Sheika managed to land two clean left hooks on Jones' grill (while Jones had his hands down) signals to me that this story is going to end badly. Sad :(

17y ago

Truth8215

Ajamu, at the very least, was active. Sheika was pretty much retired when he got the call from Jones' camp. And had lost, what, six of his last 12 or something? Anyway, Jones always appears confident against these caliber opponents. But, no matter what he says, it's obvious he's never recovered that self-belief he lost years ago. It may not show against heavy bags like Sheika but it will against a top 10 opponent. your taking what i'm saying and turning it into something else......

17y ago

IMDAZED

but still it was weird to see him so confident again, and so willing to throw combos. Even his footwork looked better. And Ajamu isn't much better than Sheika, if he is better. Ajamu, at the very least, was active. Sheika was pretty much retired when he got the call from Jones' camp. And had lost, what, six of his last 12 or something? Anyway, Jones always appears confident against these caliber opponents. But, no matter what he says, it's obvious he's never recovered that self-belief he lost years ago. It may not show against heavy bags like Sheika but it will against a top 10 opponent.

17y ago

Truth8215

That's because - sadly - Ajamu was a tougher opponent than Sheika. I knew it wouldn't go the distance as soon as he unveiled his robe and revealed that Lou Duva figure. but still it was weird to see him so confident again, and so willing to throw combos. Even his footwork looked better. And Ajamu isn't much better than Sheika, if he is better.

17y ago

IMDAZED

Great thread Reed, class thread. Even though Sheika is an easy opponent, I was very surprised to see Roy perform the way he did. Ajamu was easy, but he didn't perform like he performed on Saturday. I felt like I was watching a prime Roy Jones, the combos, the speed and the confidence was there to a high degree......something he wasn't able to show against Hanshaw, Tarver III, Ajamu, Calzaghe or Trinidad. That was the best Roy has looked since he was 34. I'm not saying hes back, and I realized Sheika is below average......but I'm just giving him props on a great performance. It was alot fun to watch as an RJJ fan... That's because - sadly - Ajamu was a tougher opponent than Sheika. I knew it wouldn't go the distance as soon as he unveiled his robe and revealed that Lou Duva figure.

17y ago

PittyPat

Ah great. I feel more safe in here, after even daring to think that Roy could possibly eke out a win against Dawson. :p Shot, past it, stylistically mismatched, whatever - I was just glad to see even a glimpse of what we know Roy for in that ring. Plus, even seeing the guy smile was such a great sight. He looks happy to be there.

17y ago

THE_REED

YUP it was a great night, no matter what.

17y ago

Truth8215

17y ago

THE_REED

Great Post. I think Roy greatly benefits from having his dad in training. Noone pushes Roy like his Dad. That could be the difference in Roy being able to compete against top 175lb guys. He cannot compete when hes training himself. So I hope he and his dad stay together for the rest of his career so he can know what he truly has left against the top guys. I also agree about training yourself... you can only push yourself so hard, and coach merk isnt pushing him that hard IMO

17y ago