by James Slater – Both Roy Jones Junior and Danny Green got the job done in some style last night in Biloxi, with the 40-year-old all-time great becoming the first man to stop Jeff Lacy at light-heavyweight and Green taking out Julio Cesar Dominguez up at cruiserweight. It’s no secret that the plan now is for the two to get it on before the end of the year, most likely in Green’s homeland of Australia.
An interesting bout on paper, will Jones, 54-5(40) be able to win what would be his first ever fight at the 200-pound mark? Or would the 36-year-old former super-middleweight and light-heavyweight belt holder who has never been stopped as a pro prove to be too strong?
Jones, who showed enough of his former skill to impress some people last night, basically battered a younger, but far more faded opponent in “Left Hook” on the way to the stoppage that came after the conclusion of the 10th round. Even more a “shot” fighter than we thought he was, 32-year-old Lacy must surely get out of the game for good now. In truth, the former super-middleweight belt holder has never looked good since his awful drubbing at the hands of Joe Calzaghe, and last night Jones hammered what little there was left of his career into the ground.
Against the much fresher and physically stronger Green, however, a man who can really bang, it could be a different story for the former pound-for-pound king. Green, who hurt Dominguez in the opening round, causing a standing count to be issued, and stopped him in the 5th, showed a good right hand and a nice left jab. The Australian tough guy would go right at Jones should the likely match-up go ahead.
Jones spoke about facing Green, 27-3(24) after he’d taken care of Lacy.
“I’m coming to Australia, baby, you better get ready. G’day mate,” Jones said post-fight. “I’ve got to go down under and get prepared and be in the best shape for him [Green]. He’s strong and he’s going to be coming at you. I’m looking forward to going down under and taking Danny Green down under.”
As for Green, he is a huge fan of Jones, and he was impressed with what he saw from the 40-year-old last night.
“His performance was awesome, ” Green said of Jones’ win over Lacy. “It’s going to be extremely hard [fighting him]. Tonight he proved he’s one of the best fighters of all time.”
There is little doubt Jones IS one of the best in history, but how much does he have left today? Though dominant, Jones’ win over an utterly spent Jeff Lacy failed to tell us.