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Don King was giddy with glee Monday at his offices in Deerfield Beach, Florida.
At his side were legendary fighters Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Roy Jones, Jr. who were in attendance to announce that they are hoping to face-off against one another in January 2008.
“My Tito has returned!” bellowed King, “My Tito Trinidad is returning to his throne!” declared the magnanimous 75 year-old promoter in unrestrained, wide-mouthed happiness.
Even by Don King’s standards he seemed beyond delighted with himself.
It’s a match that many see as at least half a decade too late as both men are well past their best days. Trinidad has been retired for two years since he lost his last fight to Winky Wright in May 2005 and Jones has looked less than impressive since being knocked out in fights versus Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson.
Should the fight actually happen it will take place on a date to be determined in January and at a catch weight of 170 pounds.
Jones, who is a fussbudget for money and is persnickety with the fine details of fight contracts hasn't actually signed on the dotted line for the bout, but said yesterday that he's leaning toward signing after he reviews the paperwork.
For Jones, it may be a wise choice. Many would see it as a poor decision if he turns away the significant revenue and even more significant attention that a match against Trinidad would garner at this late stage of his waning career.
Jones, who is 38 years old, decisioned Anthony Hanshaw on July 14th in a fight at Biloxi, Mississippi. However, he looked his age and the fight was a pay-per view television bust garnering only somewhere in the anemic neighborhood of 25,000 buys. Jones has fought sporadically over the past few years and hasn’t looked like the great fighter that he once was since March 2003, when he won the WBA heavyweight title belt from Johnny Ruiz.
Jones seemed to realize his predicament as a relevant force in the sport and as a box office draw yesterday. “It's a unique, special event that this sport needs,” admitted Jones, who was realistic, if only for a brief moment. “If you can't put it on the line for this, then you can't put it on the line for anything. This is the type of thing you put it on the line for. The sport needs another megafight and that's what this is.” [details]
At his side were legendary fighters Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Roy Jones, Jr. who were in attendance to announce that they are hoping to face-off against one another in January 2008.
“My Tito has returned!” bellowed King, “My Tito Trinidad is returning to his throne!” declared the magnanimous 75 year-old promoter in unrestrained, wide-mouthed happiness.
Even by Don King’s standards he seemed beyond delighted with himself.
It’s a match that many see as at least half a decade too late as both men are well past their best days. Trinidad has been retired for two years since he lost his last fight to Winky Wright in May 2005 and Jones has looked less than impressive since being knocked out in fights versus Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson.
Should the fight actually happen it will take place on a date to be determined in January and at a catch weight of 170 pounds.
Jones, who is a fussbudget for money and is persnickety with the fine details of fight contracts hasn't actually signed on the dotted line for the bout, but said yesterday that he's leaning toward signing after he reviews the paperwork.
For Jones, it may be a wise choice. Many would see it as a poor decision if he turns away the significant revenue and even more significant attention that a match against Trinidad would garner at this late stage of his waning career.
Jones, who is 38 years old, decisioned Anthony Hanshaw on July 14th in a fight at Biloxi, Mississippi. However, he looked his age and the fight was a pay-per view television bust garnering only somewhere in the anemic neighborhood of 25,000 buys. Jones has fought sporadically over the past few years and hasn’t looked like the great fighter that he once was since March 2003, when he won the WBA heavyweight title belt from Johnny Ruiz.
Jones seemed to realize his predicament as a relevant force in the sport and as a box office draw yesterday. “It's a unique, special event that this sport needs,” admitted Jones, who was realistic, if only for a brief moment. “If you can't put it on the line for this, then you can't put it on the line for anything. This is the type of thing you put it on the line for. The sport needs another megafight and that's what this is.” [details]
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