In the third fight with Tarver, perhaps history would look more kindly upon him in 30-40 years. I remember watching this and just thinking how far superior an athlete Jones was and just being perplexed as to why he just couldn't string his punches together consistently. He looked like he had no interest in pushing any advantages against Tarver.
You can see clearly on atleast two occasions Jones has Tarver hurt against the ropes and he just backs off.
It's not so much that RJJ didn't feel like fighting(and yes, I felt RJJ still had it in him to beat Tarver that night). That's what happens when a fighter has been psychologically damaged!
Roy 99% of the time beat opponents with ease, and somebody brutally knocks him out. And having to face that tormentor again, he just could not get over that fear. simple as that bro.
Same sh*t that Atlas has been pointing out about Miguel Cotto in the way he started doin' the same exact thing when he suffered the cut against Clottey, he reverted to fighting the same exact way in the last 3 rounds against Margarita. Atlas said, Miguel started seeing "the ghost of Margarita" and I'll bet you anything that what was going on in RJJ's head, he simply could not shake off getting ko'd.
Yet he keeps his hands low half the fight? RJJ lost the killer instinct, that's all.
"Jones/Tarver" was a great "bore you to tears" trilogy, and I'm happy for it, and I'ma let it finish ; but "Hopkins/Allen" is the greatest "why the fuck are these two assholes fighting each other again?" tilogy of all time!!!!!!!
I may be alone in this but my belief is, "If you ain't trying to win, you're a quiter". Roy wasn't trying to win against Tarver and he pulled the same shit against Calzaghe. No offense, my honest opinion.
He quit on his feet, Calzaghe really did a number to him, and he was trying to survive, no love loss there, but what he did against tarver was basically quit when he was troubled but could have won.
Random observation...
I wonder if there is some type of rule being broke when Jones touched his shoe. Something could have transferred from his shoe to his glove making his glove more capable of causing scratches or cuts. Of course that's the reason the ref wipes off the gloves if they touch the canvas.
Interesting. Gloves get sweaty if it picks up a small rock i'm sure the rival can feel that.
I may be alone in this but my belief is, "If you ain't trying to win, you're a quiter". Roy wasn't trying to win against Tarver and he pulled the same shit against Calzaghe. No offense, my honest opinion.
Random observation...
I wonder if there is some type of rule being broke when Jones touched his shoe. Something could have transferred from his shoe to his glove making his glove more capable of causing scratches or cuts. Of course that's the reason the ref wipes off the gloves if they touch the canvas.
RJ was messed up ever since he went from heavyweight down to middleweight? He sat in a sauna all day from what I've heard. It messed him up psychically.
RJ just plain ain't feel like fightin in that fight. He coulda beaten Tarver if he felt like it. That shit was sad to watch.
Same with Calzaghe, Jones was such a superior fighter and athlete to Calzaghe but just didn't have the killer instinct in him that was a staple of his game early on.