by James Slater – As was expected, Roy Jones Junior yesterday announced via satellite press conference that he will be taking on Danny Green in Green’s home country of Australia, probably in November. First, the two must win on the August 15th card they will share – with Jones taking on Jeff Lacy and Green taking on Julio Cesar Dominguez. Should the two emerge unscathed, they will box one another in what is being called a fight that will be one of the biggest ever in Australian history..
Some have questioned why 40-year-old Jones continues to risk his health and reputation by boxing on after all he’s achieved. Yesterday, the former pound-for-pound king explained why he continues to fight.
“I have never fought outside of the USA as a professional and this fight gives me a chance to show the boxing fans in Australia Roy Jones in action,” Jones said yesterday. “Danny is a proud fighter and he is showing his class in coming to America to fight on the under-card of my next fight against Jeff Lacy and I am going to return the favour and come and fight him in his home country – probably in November.
“That is the date we are working on, but we both have to win our fights first, against solid opponents. If Danny wins the IBO cruiserweight title in August (against the 20-4-2(14) Dominguez, the belt being vacant right now) then I can challenge for my fifth world title in different weights which is an excellent challenge for me.”
So, Jones is evidently pumped at the thought of boxing his Australian debut, and in challenging for his fifth “world” title in as many weight classes. Jones-Green is a decent enough fight, but at the same time it’s a far cry from some of the mega-fights the all-time great gave us in his heyday.
For his part, 36-year-old Green believes he will KO Jones when they clash in 2009’s penultimate month.
“I am full of respect for one of the best fifteen fighters of all-time in any era,” Green said. “But I have a boxing job to do and I do believe I can knock him out. With respect, I aim to knock him out.”
That result, even though Jones is far past his prime today, would be a shock. Yet each and every time Jones fights at his current age, he faces this very real possibility. Jeff Lacy, who gets to Jones before Green, is probably thinking it will be he who ends the modern day legend’s career.
However, Roy said he is in no way underestimating “Left Hook.”
“I am not going to underestimate Jeff Lacy and he is know for his left hook but Roy Jones is going to give him a lesson in how to hook. I am the master of the hook and Lacy will receive a boxing lesson,” Jones said. “But I know that if I do not prepare, train, or focus on the August fight then this proposed fight with Danny Green will not happen. The pressure is on both of us to deliver in August.”
Should he beat both Lacy and then Green, it would perhaps be a good time for Jones to finally retire. But Roy says he has more left in him than just these two fights.
“I still have two years left in the sport and I will test myself with new challenges, like the one with Danny which is in a new country and for a new weight title,” he said. “I am still motivated to continue in the sport with all the experience I have developed over such a long career.”
I for one always felt Jones – a smart and intelligent guy who knows all about the hazards fighting on too long can bring – would have been long retired by now.