Boxing

 

Michalczewski - Jones Jr: Time marches on and yet...

Fred De La Riva

02.09 - It is becoming very difficult to give Roy Jones, Jr. and Dariusz Michalczewski much credit as a great fighters. Year after year these two talented pugilists go through the competition like a "hot knife through butter". Now, I hate to use cliches, but hell I have a column to write and the more words I put down on paper the better.

Well enough of my problems and let's get back to the original topic. The first time I saw Roy Jones unleashed on the professional boxing world was back in 1990 as he took on a fighter by the name of Reggie Williams. Now Roy couldn't have had more than 10 fights at the time and all I could do was
stare in astonishment. In front of me stood a legend in the making. Now "hind sight is 20/20", (there go those cliches again), but I knew that this guy would someday be a legend.

Now fast forward six years later. The year was 1996 and there had been many good things written about a certain fighter born in Gdansk, Poland, but now living Germany. After reading article after article I purchased some Michalczewski fights on VHS and I saw the second coming of the "Polish Hammer". The Polish Hammer, for those that might not know was a professional wrestler by the name of Ivan Putski who wrestled back in the late seventies to early eighties. Putski was a monster of a man who was not the greatest wrestler, but he kept coming and coming much like Michalczewski . Now I can just hear Michalczewski 's fans scream out about his great jab and all, but bear with me here. The man was amazing. He was not the most talented fighter I've ever seen, but man was he strong. "Boy", I thought. "Wouldn't it be great to see Roy in with this guy".

Now 2003 is fast approaching and after many taunts, innuendos and rumors, the fight between the two best men at 175 is still but a dream to most boxing fans. They fight in a time where the best competitors in their weight classes were in a different era. Just 15 to 20 years ago they could have
faced men like Michael Moorer, Dwight Qawi, and Matthew Saad Muhammad. Not to mention Yaqui Lopez and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. These would have been the true tests. If you were to go a little further back, there were greats such as Moore, Maxim ,Foster, Spinks, and the always fun Dick Tiger.

It's not hard to see that Roy and Dariusz need each other. Their standing among boxing legends will forever be questioned if they chose to continually take the path of least resistance. Now I understand boxing is a business and both fighters will fight to tip whatever deal is struck in their favor, but time is running out. Roy is 33 now and Dariusz is 34. In the boxing game they have more yesterdays than tomorrows. I for one, hope this fight is made.

The clock is ticking gentlemen and it's almost quitting time...

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