By Mike Samuels

22.08 - Roy Jones Jr. is too good for his era. He knows it. Boxing knows it.

His competition would give anyone in the 175lb weight class a good fight, but he is able to dance around like Michael Jackson and drop his foes with his hands behind his back. Roy Jones has boxed in numerous weight classes. Roy Jones has unified every weight division he’s stepped up to, and he’s done it by making the champions of the time look like third-rate fighters. This is a very frustrating thing to witness, because most fans of boxing like a guy to dominate. But not so dominate that he rarely loses a round, and makes the "tough fights" seem like a walk in the park. After all, boxing needs an edge to keep the fans attention, to keep them wanting more. The people want to see Roy Jones in a fight. They want Roy Jones to be challenged up front. They want to see Jones get hit, dazzled, stunned, and knocked on his ass. He doesn’t necessarily have to lose a fight, but he has to be in a FIGHT. And for five million cranks a pop, he has sure balanced his workload for the past three-to-four years.

The question that continues to be asked is: When does he step it up?

And it’s a question that the public (as well as boxing) demands an answer too. The sooner the better. But are the right questions being addressed? Has boxing forgotten that Roy Jones has won titles in three weight classes? Have we forgot that Jones beat the "pound-for-pound" James Toney with ease, knocked Virgil Hill out with a single body blow (breaking his ribs) and out mastered the rough and tough Bernard Hopkins? Not to mention in his only (highly controversial) loss to Montell Griffin he came back months later and, highly motivated, knocked Griffin silly, avenging his only "loss" in the style that can’t be argued by any champion who has lost in the past.

No. We haven’t forgotten any of it. How could we? After every fight (and in his so-called Rap Debut) we are reminded of how many titles Jones has won, and how heavy his mid section is from carrying all the weight of an undisputed champion in three weight classes. Roy Jones is not only a champion, but an all-star promoter for himself.

Only what he’s selling is false advertisement.

Every six months he fights a mandatory (and someone please tell me who in the hell Glen Kelly is) and he dismantles them so easily that it appears he isn’t trying. Fighting mandatory is fine, hell, it’s often over-looked by most fighters and in the long run those champions are stripped for not granting the proper fights (i.e.: Lewis/Ruiz). That’s not where the problem lies. If you watch, after every fight (most notably his fight against Kelly when he was going toe-to-toe with Hopkins via Satellite), Jones runs his mouth on fighting Hopkins, and if that fight doesn’t get out in the air, then he is on the first plane to start negotiations with The Tiger, and if that doesn’t’ work there’s always a showdown with Jirov. These are big fights and fights Roy wants. He’s out to prove he’s the best ever, and he isn’t going to go out for the rest of his career fighting Kelly and his family.

Or is he? And just how serious is he?

It’s not expected for Jones to have to sacrifice everything to give the people the fights they want. Look at the facts, but remember there are two sides to every story.

Hopkins has something to prove to Roy. So if he wants Jones, why not go to 175lbs? After all, Jones beat Hopkins on Hopkins ground in a sense.

Jirov has fought enough American names to get the respect he deserves. He hasn’t been on the bright side of politics, but to get what he wants, why not move to 175lbs and face Jones? Jones is the champion. He’s proven himself in three weight classes. Does he really need Jirov?

Those are the positives for Roy Jones. But the negative aspect is generated mostly from the man himself. Jones is the one who has called out Darius, called out Hopkins, called out Jirov and others, and showed no true intention of actually putting things down on paper. And hell, that’s not typical of Jones, who continues to pride himself on the "business side" of boxing.

Most the world knows that Jones will never fight Hopkins again, or fight Jirov or go to Europe and fight The Tiger (as the memory of the Olympics stands in his head), and we know damn well Darius won’t come to the United States, as he’s proven to be another padded WBO champion. Most of the world has accepted that, so just what is everyone supposed to think with Jones’ freshest and perhaps, most bizarre offer to date?

"I am telling you, I want to fight John Ruiz for the heavyweight title," Jones said. "When I am done with Clinton Woods in September, you tell Ruiz that I am coming."

Are you serious, Roy? About as serious as when you were in heavy negotiations to fight Buster Douglas? Just what does the boxing public have with your past history that would cause anyone to believe your heavy mouth? The ironic thing is, Roy Jones won’t move down to fight any of the so-called " threats" that boxing has for him. He isn’t expected too, but he openly states that he will; yet nothing has been done and it’s been five years. Knowing this, just how can anyone get excited for the possibility of a Jones-Ruiz fight?

Simple answer: They can’t. It’s another case of Jones blowing smoke up the asses of the public, but doing it all to help keeping that "Doing it for the fans and the sport" image. Sorry, Roy. You lost that a long time ago. If Roy Jones wants to rebuild his image, he can do so by getting in the ring with some of his own, before he steps in with a fake champion in John Ruiz.

It’s not a knock on Ruiz. It’s not to say that Jones would even beat Johnny-Boy. I’d give my view, as well as the rest of the crew here at Eastsideboxing.com, but why waste our time on a fight that will only happen in our dreams?

PROPS OF THE WEEK: This week belongs to David Tua. Yeah, he’s still as one-dimensional as ever and he beat a shot Michael Moorer, but he has a chin, stamina, and one hell of a punch – when he connects, that is. If you doubt it, just ask Michael Moorer.

EASTSIDE’S BITCHSLAP OF THE WEEK: No, it doesn’t go to Michael Moorer. Granted he lasted about as long as a virgin on his wedding night, but he did something that Sam Hill didn’t – he fought for about 15 seconds. That’s half of his bout. Sammy, on the other hand, put his hands up and walked into punches for ten rounds. Not to mention that he talked more trash than Dennis Rodman leading up to this fight.

FAKE ASS OF THE YEAR: It’s almost been a year since X destroyed Tito. So that means it’s almost been a year since he stood in front of Larry Merchant and told the world he would be more than happy to grant Tito a rematch and apologize to the Puerto Rican fans. Keep on talking Hop. Soon you’ll be regarded as the next Roy Jones.

Mike Samuels can be reached for comments or criticism on this piece or for Boxings Baddest: The Fans Speak! at Tyson180@aol.com