By Robert Jackson: To quote comedian Chris Rock, “Yeah I said it”; I thought that Roy Jones would defeat Joe Calzaghe, how wrong was I? While rewatching the fight replayed on HBO this past weekend, Roy fought as well as could be expected and was never hurt even while being hit with many good shots! Early in the fight Roy’s legs were there but were taken away as Joe Calzaghe worked him over. There were also many good rounds where Roy was competitive, but in the end all was for naught because he was beaten by a much better fighter, which goes without saying. My mind even allowed me to think the unthinkable, that being, maybe at Roy’s BEST he wouldnt’ve have beaten Joe!
Such blasphemy! I looked for the magic that WAS Roy Jones and the “Reluctant One” couldn’t and didn’t deliver except momentarily in round one. At the end I was saddened that Roy Jones did not deliver his final sermon announcing his retirement from the ring, I was also amazed by the victory speech of Joe Calzaghe who seemed to suggest that there may be bigger fish to fry when Chad Dawson’s name was mentioned by HBO point man Max Kellerman.
I read last week that a Jones cornerman initiated a cell phone call to Roy Sr. during the fight, to solicit advice as to what Roy Jr, should do. I also read that many Jones family members wanted the fight stopped around the 8th or 9th round. Jones still believes he can compete at the highest level, my suggestion to him would be replace Alton Merkerson if it’s possible to ‘teach an old dog new tricks’, SCRATCH THAT, please retire. Congratulations to Joe Calzaghe future HOFamer and all-time great. I think that if Joe Calzaghe continues Jermaine Taylor will be next rather than Bad Chad Dawson. Taylor still has the same flaws that were EXPOSED by Kelly Pavlik, Jeff Lacy just didn’t have the firepower to exploit those flaws, Joe WILL exploit them! Looking forward to Hatton/Malignaggi, Williams/Phillips and De La Hoya/Pacquiao, Hatton over “float like a butterfly, sting like a butterfly” Malignaggi, Williams out hustles Phillips and Pacquiao will CRUSH De La Hoya, “YEAH I SAID IT”!