By James Slater: Whilst watching the recent Nigel Benn-Gerald McClellan “The Fight of Their Lives” documentary on ITV, and being reminded that, as an amateur, “The G Man” beat the great Roy Jones Junior (with Jones, according to the documentary, saying he would not fight McClellan as a pro) – I couldn’t help but shudder anew at the thought of Jones boxing on.
Of course, the 42-year-old IS boxing on; this coming Saturday in fact. Running the risk of ending up in a similar condition to that of the former world champ from Freeport (with Jones already suffering quite nasty and brutal stoppage defeats at the hands of Antonio Tarver, Glen Johnson and, most recently and most brutally, Denis Lebedev), Jones will fight again as a cruiserweight against one-time “Contender” Max Alexander.
Why Jones, a smart guy who knows all about his friend’s appalling condition (Roy reportedly lends a hand cash-wise when he can) chooses to risk his own health is beyond me. Imagine how horrific it would be if Jones did wind up as damaged as McClellan! That would be too much to bear. Hopefully it won’t happen, but until the day he finally realises he is no longer the Roy Jones Junior he once was, the risk will be all too real.
This Saturday’s fight (which will be available on Pay-Per-View for just $9.99 and will contest the meaningless UBO cruiserweight bauble) is, on paper, one even a faded Jones should be able to win. As shot as he is, Jones still has fast hands and the ability to flitter his way around the ring. Alexander, no big puncher even on his best day, has been inactive and the 30-year-old has not won a fight since way back in 2007; this via a decision. Despite his lack of power and of recent wins, Alexander, 14-5-2(2) says he plans on stopping Jones by the 6th-round and of “ending Jones’ career,” (the quote courtesy of 8count news).
Jones himself has promised a KO win. There may be a few thousand fans intrigued enough to shell out the ten bucks to find out what happens. I won’t be one of them. I prefer to remember Jones, 54-8(40) as the almost unbelievable fighter he once was. A fighter who, in his blindingly-fast youth, was beaten only by his good friend Gerald McClellan.