I Saw Jeff Lacy’s Face… Now I’m a Believer

[jump-man]

And still....................

[WESS]

Anyone thinking this was a victory for the ages was, and probably still is, a very ardent supporter and fan of Roy Jones Jr. It's not that Roy didn't look great in his win, but we really can't make Lacy into something he isn't. I mean, I know for me- going into the fight- my thoughts were 'Roy gets the decision, possibly an easy one, unless he looks old.'

I mean, that's all it showed me. That, up to this point in time, Roy Jones Jr. doesn't quite look his age. Like Hopkins his amazing athleticism and work-horse training mentality are doing wonders. Jeff Lacy had, quite frankly, been revealed for what he was - a plodding, slower power puncher that didn't have the top-notch fundamental skills to be much more than a lower top 10-fighter, if that.

Roy, on the other hand, has already established who he was- the question now is just at what capacity of his prime is he still operating. Is this 75% Roy Jones of old? Are we seeing 85% of what he had been? Will he fall to a mere shadow of that..?

Roy's performance showed me his age hasn't caught up to him and, given the chance, he can still use his speed like he once did. Roy's problem has been displaying that, not gifted with the speed and reflexes he once had, how effectivley he can fall back on the fundamentals he never needed in his prime. Not surprisingly, if he can't taunt and showboat and put a guy off his rythmn by showing his amazing hand speed, Roy just isn't the same fighter.

Lacy let him do that. It really came down to hand speed. Not to say Roy didn't do other things right, or Lacy other things wrong, but the fight can be summarized as such: Roy Jones Jr. still has solid speed and, put in with a guy who is much slower than him, can dazzle.

Roy didn't show he can use Hopkins-like counter punching and old-school fundamentals to cope for a guy faster than him, stronger than him, or simply hungrier than him. No. Instead, he was able to give a great performance against a limited, slower fighter.

To me- that's all. Not to say it wasn't nice to see Roy dominate again, and at times he was able to do the classic 'Roy' thing and look great showboating, but he didn't show me something I never knew. Jones didn't display some aspect of himself that, up until this point, we'd never seen. His age didn't display some maturity and growth- like when Barrera tried to transition from a brawler to a technical boxer- that made us reevaluate him.

If anything, I walked away with a pleased nod and knowing Roy doesn't have much else to accomplish. He can walk away anytime now. He didn't go out sleeping, or getting smacked around by Calzaghe. He got a decent win over a limited younger guy and looked slick doing it. Why fight Green? Why take on someone who can possibly match his speed?

I'd rather remember Roy's last little hurrah as being something like he did with Lacy than get so excited I suggest he get back in there and start clamoring towards the top again. I like the guy, and I'm not saying he didn't look good, but we have to remember it was against Jeff Lacy- and that just can't be overstated.

We all know Roy outclasses guys that can't touch his skills- and he showed he has enough speed and reflexes left to still outclass some guys; that's not a signal that he's back, or that he's still got 'it', though.

It is what it is.

This is kind of what I said about Lacy VS Calzaghe.... People can use the injury as an excuse as to why Lacy NOW sucks. But the fact is, "It is what it is" and that IS that Lacy was a never has been. Just a fighter that was overly hyped and made by the media (that was missing Tyson at the time). People bought into the nonsense.

Calzaghe IMO is a good fighter, not a great one. Yet in Calzaghe's career, Lacy is a top name on his best wins..... Jones toyed and destroyed the never has been yet this is nothing big compared to what Jones did in his prime.

Pac for some reason got A LOT of credit for beating an over hyped washed up, already beaten Ricky Hatton..... Why wouldn't Roy get the same treatment??? Lacy and Hatton any difference here?

I don't give Jones much credit. I didn't give Calaghe anything for beating Lacy so why would I give Jones any? As I said I give Jones credit for waking up that morning and putting on a show that entertained people/haters/fans.

I know I enjoyed it. I knew it would be an embarrassing fight for Lacy as I knew when Lacy fought Calzaghe. I didn't even care to watch that fight. I just knew it was a guy (calzaghe) from overseas that had good endurance but slapped all night and NEVER wanted anything to do with the P4P king in the 90's or even stepping on American soil and calling out a REAL fight to "The fighter of the 90's".... I didn't care one bit.

You do have good points on Jones but this is all what I said when Jones fought Calzaghe. I said if Jones has his legs he'll beat Calzaghe and maybe even embarrass him. But without them he would lose and that he did. More so embarrassingly due to no legs and a cut that he has never had to deal with.

Jones proved many times this passed weekend that he is "Capt Hook" and that his endurance and love for the sport is ALL still there. Jones has proved that he STILL has a right and will to fight. Only person I fear for him is Dawson. Scary fight for him IMO.....

I still wonder what Hopkins thought about the fight.... I'm surprised we haven't seen him come out and say something.....

[Achille]

I'm not ready to drink the cool aid, having said that I grew up watching Roy and in his prime in my estimation he was unbeatable. A 40 year old, so called washed up fighter put down at the time a top 3 pound for pound fighter(Calzhage) in the first round, a prime Roy does more than just put him down, he puts him out.

If people choose to dismiss Roy's latest performance, then use the exact same logic and dismiss the win Calzhage has over him, because by all account Calz fought a washed up, faded fighter correct?

2 fights in with his father and I am willing to say that I see something different about Roy, reminiscent of his younger days. Hard to put a finger on it and by no means am I saying he will again take boxing by storm, but he seems to more comfortable than I've seen him in a long time, having his father back in his corner. He is letting his hands go and taking chances again. I'm not ready to say that he beats the top fighters, but I am convinced he will give them all hell before it's said and done and that says a lot about a so-called washed up 41 year old fighter. And FYI this version of Jones beats Hopkins again.

That's real talk right there I agree. RJJ looked good in his fight with Lacy. I wish Roy would of used Roy Sr for the Joe C fight, I am not sure if he would of won the fight but he would of been way more prepared. The fight would have been a lot less lopsided like it was. Training with both Roy Sr and Coach Merc has brought some life back to Roy. Hopefully this continues so he can fight higher tier fighters such as Dawson or get revenge on Johnson.

[gibo]

why isn't hobkins calling out RJJ?

[gibo]

hobkins is quiet as a mother****, trying not to get RJJ to call him out!!!!!!!! Hide bernard, cause ROY WILL whip that *ss AGAIN!!!!!!!! bernie knows it... thats why he's BEEN hiding since the first whipping. Ever notice how bernie loud talks everyone, and wants to be the main MOFO when other fighters are around? But once he see's ROY or even hears his name, he high tails his *ss out of the conversation and SHOWS his fear of RJJ!!!!! NEVER HAVE I SEEN A FIGHTER ACT THAT WAY AGAINST ANOTHER!!!!

[Picazo]

Id like to see roy retire honestly, he fought brilliantly. But it was to lacy, I dont wanna see the dude get ****ed up you know. sometimes our pride gets the best of us.

[PAC-BOY]

hobkins is quiet as a mother****, trying not to get RJJ to call him out!!!!!!!! Hide bernard, cause ROY WILL whip that *ss AGAIN!!!!!!!! bernie knows it... thats why he's BEEN hiding since the first whipping. Ever notice how bernie loud talks everyone, and wants to be the main MOFO when other fighters are around? But once he see's ROY or even hears his name, he high tails his *ss out of the conversation and SHOWS his fear of RJJ!!!!! NEVER HAVE I SEEN A FIGHTER ACT THAT WAY AGAINST ANOTHER!!!!

Roy needs to beat a top guy before A shot at Bhop. Why would bhop wanna fight a gut who beats bums?

[switchsouthpaw]

Roy needs to beat a top guy before A shot at Bhop. Why would bhop wanna fight a gut who beats bums?

Roy already beat him once and I have the tape, put it this way...it was very, very easy and he did it with one hand.