Did Roy Jones Jr blatantly duck / avoid Dariusz Michaelczewski? Why?

[Mr Objecitivity]

Why didn't this bout not take place? Dariusz Michalczewski was clearly a proven light heavyweight champion and arguably the number one at the time. Michaelczewski obviously was the lineal champion too.

Why didn't this bout take place? What were the causes? Whose fault was it, if it was the fault of specific members for the bout not taking place?

[Rahat]

Darius wanted to stay in his country... so did roy jones so gotta blame both of them

[sunny31]

I think both guys are to blame. For the record, I think Jones would have beat the brakes off Dariusz, but fights aren't won on paper.

[IMDAZED]

No although it made great marketing for Michalczewski.

There was a point where HBO intervened and tried to make the fight happen by working with Klaus Peter-Kohl directly and were unable to strike a deal.

[Rubber Ducky]

They basically both ducked each other in my opinion and they were both happy to do so. Both had it good on their respective sides of the pond making good money for facing over matched opposition.

Neither were willing to travel, neither were willing to make any compromises to make the fight happen. Had one of them been willing to do what was required then the fight may have happened. Sometimes one fighter needs to make a short term loss for long term gain but nether RJJ or DM wanted it enough to do so.

[Zaroku]

I'll take 5 kilos of what you are smoking add a bit more, Jhonny needs ... To blaze..

[TrueBox]

If I remember correctly, Roy wanted 25 Million to tango with D.M in early 00's. Roy wasn't a PPV attraction back then. I don't think he ever was.

[IMDAZED]

If I remember correctly, Roy wanted 25 Million to tango with D.M in early 00's. Roy wasn't a PPV attraction back then. I don't think he ever was.

You remember extremely incorrect.

[TrueBox]

You remember extremely incorrect.

Roy was always being tough on the negotiations, man. The B-Hop rematch could've happened in '02 but Roy had too much fun playing hard to get.

Nobody would've paid him 20-25 million to fight D.M. He even got less than 20 million for fighting Ruiz at heavyweight.

[jas]

Hbo was payin jones loads for fighting much inferior opposition