Old School Warriors in New School Exploitation

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Jake Donovan - It's already upon us. A mere 19 days into the boxing year, the most dedicated fans in the world are already being asked to hit their pockets, as faded legends Felix "Tito" Trinidad and Roy Jones throw down in the year's first PPV card (Saturday, 9PM ET, HBO PPV, live from Madison Square Garden).

By now, you've already been subjected to (if not completely overwhelmed with) the enormous amount of nostalgia and pre-fight hype that has surrounded this event. A dozen or so major cities in the United States and Puerto Rico were tapped to play host to the never-ending press tour. We've seen and heard the endless loops accentuating the lengthy list of achievements between two fighters guaranteed a spot in the International Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility (of course, they'd actually have to retire, or at least remain inactive, for five years in order for that to happen, but that's for another day). [details]

[NachoMan]

Well said. Don King gets a lot of **** these days, but he absolutely did put on some of the best PPV shows, period.

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

I think it's an intriguing fight just from a fans perspective but it has no relevence really. I would have liked to see this fight a little earlier in both their careers.

I say Jones wins just because he's been the most active of the two.

[Sweet Pea]

I enjoyed the article and the analysis is spot-on.

I also think that Graham Houston is one hell of a boxing writer.

Jones UD12 in a safety-first borefest with Tito in feet of lead.

[JakeNDaBox]

I enjoyed the article and the analysis is spot-on.

I also think that Graham Houston is one hell of a boxing writer.

Jones UD12 in a safety-first borefest with Tito in feet of lead.

Thanks Sweet Pea. And yes, Houston is superb. The thing I appreciate most about him, he's able to get his point across without attempting to belittle you with a bunch of $5 words.

[TheKMan]

Thanks Sweet Pea. And yes, Houston is superb. The thing I appreciate most about him, he's able to get his point across without attempting to belittle you with a bunch of $5 words.

I'm glad to see Graham getting props. I consider him the most knowledgeable guy on press row. And unlike a lot of us, he is not in the least bit interested in advancing himself. He is a very modest guy. I love it when he starts talking about an obscure fight between Thai straweights with unpronounceable names, and says, "Well, Kieran, as you know, Shomshak Thatchwapitlan was considered borderline finished after his bruising battle with Medhak ChiChatGym." "As I know?" Me, I have no idea. I just nod and smile. But Graham knows all about all these fighters. He's a credit to the game.