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Tuesday, September 28, 2004
By Doug Fischer
MaxBoxing.com
What a drag it is getting old -- for some, but not all, fighters. While it would appear that Roy Jones is finished at age 35, Mark Johnson is over the hill at age 33 and Oscar De La Hoya is slowing down at age 31, Bernard Hopkins, who turns 40 in January, has reached his apex as a fighter. James Toney, who is 36, hasn't lost a step in his "old age" (or his over weight).
Jones conquerors Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson are both 35 years old; however, it should be noted that the Magic Man turned pro in '97, while the Road Warrior started punching for pay in '93.
Jones, an '88 Olympian who turned pro in '89, won his first world title (the vacant IBF middleweight belt vs. Hopkins) two months after Johnson turned pro. By the time Tarver, a '96 Olympian, turned pro, Jones was already a three-division champ, having won the IBF super middleweight title from Toney (of which he made five defenses) and the WBC "interim" light heavyweight title from Mike McCallum. Two weeks after Johnson was handed his first loss (by Hopkins) in late July of '97, Jones avenged his only pro loss, a disqualification to Montell Griffin, by first-round knockout. It was the last time Jones fought with real passion.
After winning his 175-pound belt back from Griffin, then making 11 consecutive light heavyweight title defenses (following a one-punch body shot KO of Virgil Hill in a non-title bout), unifying the 175-pound titles along the way, and a history-making excursion to the heavyweight division, Jones had pretty much reached all of his professional goals. He was no longer fighting for his legacy or to feed his children. Jones was only fighting for pride and ego. And that's not going to get it done against hungry world-class fighters who have yet to taste glory or the good life.
I mention all of this to point out that I appreciate the body of work Jones has put together over the past 11 years. But now that the hunger is gone and age has taken his legs and slowed his reflexes. The man is done as a prize fighter.
Despite being called a "Roy Hater" by Jones' most ardent fans, I gave the former four-division champ the benefit of the doubt following his first fight with Tarver, which he won by a majority decision, and after the rematch, which ended with him being stretched in the second round. I kept Jones at the No. 1 spot on this list after the first fight (even though I thought it was a draw). There was no shame in struggling with a good fighter like Tarver, especially after dropping 20 pounds of muscle. After his second-round KO, I dropped him to No. 5 on the list. Hey, everyone gets caught eventually, right?
Well, after his chilling ninth-round KO to Johnson, I'm dropping Jones from the top 20 altogether. It's not that I don't think he's an awesome boxer. I just don't think Jones should be fighting anymore. And more importantly, I don't think he can beat the best fighters between 160 and 175 pounds.
Johnson, who I don't rank in the top 20, would beat Jones again, in my opinion, maybe quicker the second time around. Tarver would likely cut it down to the opening round. Toney would give Jones the beatdown of his life before turning the lights out late in the bout. And as light and narrow as Hopkins is, I think he would not only out-work Jones over 12, but out-box him, too (whether the fight took place at 168 pounds, 175, 190 or over 200 -- I don't think it matters anymore).
I can't believe I'm about to write this, but I think Joe Calzaghe would beat Jones now. I can see Calzaghe winning by knockout or by one-sided decision, but I can't see him losing to the guy who let Johnson beat on him for eight and half rounds. Hell, I wouldn't count Griffin out of out-boxing Jones in a rubber match. I'd give Rico Hoye a puncher's chance. As shopworn as Julio Gonzalez is, I can see him out-working Jones in a rematch. Danny Green might take Jones now.
I'll stop here. I don't want to incur the wrath of the Roy Jones faithful. I just want to explain why you won't see their hero on this list.
By Doug Fischer
MaxBoxing.com
What a drag it is getting old -- for some, but not all, fighters. While it would appear that Roy Jones is finished at age 35, Mark Johnson is over the hill at age 33 and Oscar De La Hoya is slowing down at age 31, Bernard Hopkins, who turns 40 in January, has reached his apex as a fighter. James Toney, who is 36, hasn't lost a step in his "old age" (or his over weight).
Jones conquerors Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson are both 35 years old; however, it should be noted that the Magic Man turned pro in '97, while the Road Warrior started punching for pay in '93.
Jones, an '88 Olympian who turned pro in '89, won his first world title (the vacant IBF middleweight belt vs. Hopkins) two months after Johnson turned pro. By the time Tarver, a '96 Olympian, turned pro, Jones was already a three-division champ, having won the IBF super middleweight title from Toney (of which he made five defenses) and the WBC "interim" light heavyweight title from Mike McCallum. Two weeks after Johnson was handed his first loss (by Hopkins) in late July of '97, Jones avenged his only pro loss, a disqualification to Montell Griffin, by first-round knockout. It was the last time Jones fought with real passion.
After winning his 175-pound belt back from Griffin, then making 11 consecutive light heavyweight title defenses (following a one-punch body shot KO of Virgil Hill in a non-title bout), unifying the 175-pound titles along the way, and a history-making excursion to the heavyweight division, Jones had pretty much reached all of his professional goals. He was no longer fighting for his legacy or to feed his children. Jones was only fighting for pride and ego. And that's not going to get it done against hungry world-class fighters who have yet to taste glory or the good life.
I mention all of this to point out that I appreciate the body of work Jones has put together over the past 11 years. But now that the hunger is gone and age has taken his legs and slowed his reflexes. The man is done as a prize fighter.
Despite being called a "Roy Hater" by Jones' most ardent fans, I gave the former four-division champ the benefit of the doubt following his first fight with Tarver, which he won by a majority decision, and after the rematch, which ended with him being stretched in the second round. I kept Jones at the No. 1 spot on this list after the first fight (even though I thought it was a draw). There was no shame in struggling with a good fighter like Tarver, especially after dropping 20 pounds of muscle. After his second-round KO, I dropped him to No. 5 on the list. Hey, everyone gets caught eventually, right?
Well, after his chilling ninth-round KO to Johnson, I'm dropping Jones from the top 20 altogether. It's not that I don't think he's an awesome boxer. I just don't think Jones should be fighting anymore. And more importantly, I don't think he can beat the best fighters between 160 and 175 pounds.
Johnson, who I don't rank in the top 20, would beat Jones again, in my opinion, maybe quicker the second time around. Tarver would likely cut it down to the opening round. Toney would give Jones the beatdown of his life before turning the lights out late in the bout. And as light and narrow as Hopkins is, I think he would not only out-work Jones over 12, but out-box him, too (whether the fight took place at 168 pounds, 175, 190 or over 200 -- I don't think it matters anymore).
I can't believe I'm about to write this, but I think Joe Calzaghe would beat Jones now. I can see Calzaghe winning by knockout or by one-sided decision, but I can't see him losing to the guy who let Johnson beat on him for eight and half rounds. Hell, I wouldn't count Griffin out of out-boxing Jones in a rubber match. I'd give Rico Hoye a puncher's chance. As shopworn as Julio Gonzalez is, I can see him out-working Jones in a rematch. Danny Green might take Jones now.
I'll stop here. I don't want to incur the wrath of the Roy Jones faithful. I just want to explain why you won't see their hero on this list.