An Official 'What To Do Now" Guide For Your Average Roy-Hater

Mike Samuels

03.03 - This past weekend Roy Jones Jr. did something that Bob Foster thought he couldn't do - he beat the WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz - and he did it in style. So where does that leave the average Roy-basher? Don't worry. I've taken the time out of my busy schedule to show you, the reader, just what you might expect from your friends and all of those who despise boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter.

So sit back, think of your favorite Glen Kelly moment and never fear, as I transform myself into the mind of Roy Jones biggest hater.

Date: March 2nd, 2003.
Time: 11:00PM Vegas Time
Place: A Street Corner.

SOMEWHERE Roy Jones' biggest anti-supporter walks the streets and thinks out loud to himself, helping to vent the frustrations that surround his head.

"I've given Jones my fair share of heat over the years. I've waited and waited for him to challenge himself and he still hasn't. When he fought Bernard Hopkins and beat him soundly, I said, 'So what?' Hopkins was green. He was too raw to handle a boxer like Jones. The timing just wasn't right.

Put them in the ring with each other right now, because I'm sure Hopkins, who destroyed Trinidad like no one imagined he could, would get even with Jones.

When he stepped up against boxing's pound-for-pound hero James Toney, and gave him the beating of his life, I figured it was a dream. There's no way Jones beats my Detroit native. No way. After watching the fight a few times it was clear that Toney was over weight, clear he didn't train like he should have, and clear that it was an off night for the former champion.

But them in the ring today - heavyweight or cruiserweight terms - and I promise Toney gets the better of Jones.

When Jones faced Virgil Hill - who was no Toney, but still solid - I figured it would be a competitive fight. Maybe not a fight Hill could win, but one that would test Roy and his boxing depth. So when Jones starched Hill with a body shot in four rounds, breaking a pair of his ribs, I pinched myself once again. Oh, well, though. What did that prove? It's obvious Hill was a shot fighter after his war with Germany's own version of Roy Jones, The White Tiger.

Okay, okay. So Jones has beaten everyone. Has he faced everyone? What about Steve Collins? Nigel Benn? Anyone seen Michael Nunn? But I don't even need to mention those guys. Sure, Roy would probably beat them to a pulp, but we'll never know, will we?

So here comes John Ruiz. Forget that he's the WBA champion. Let's think for a moment. Who did this cat ever beat? Everyone else sees a big heavyweight who is going to cause problems for Jones, but what do I see? I'll tell you. I see a guy who was flat-lined in 19 seconds by the most one-dimensional fighter on the market right now - David Tua. I see a guy who hasn't beaten a top fighter his whole career, unless you want to throw in an aged and mentally shot fighter like Evander Holyfield. And even by doing that it's crystal clear to me that Holyfield knocked him out with a body shot but didn't get credit for it. Instead all three of those fights proved what a joke Ruiz and Don King really are. I also see a guy who wouldn't be anything more than another Shannon Briggs - and that's even saying too much - if it weren't for that annoying, cheap accent, F-bomb slurring maniac Norman Stone in his corner.

What do I think about last night? Nothing. Roy Jones beat John Ruiz. He was a C level fighter at best who was put in the right place at the right time. The guy couldn't even beat Kirk Johnson convincingly, c'mon. What kind of champion is that?

What people need to come to realize is, Roy Jones didn't beat a champion. He didn't even try to do what that one guy, I don't even know his name I'm so mad right now, did a hundred years ago. Foster fought Frazier and Ali. Spinks fought Holmes, and Jones; he merely exposed John Ruiz for the phony he is.

So go ahead, Roy. Beat up on Ruiz. I know the truth. All my friends know the truth. You're too scared to fight Jirov, too scared to give Hopkins a rematch, and defintley too much of a chicken to face the real champion, Lennox Lewis."