By Vivek Wallace – This week’s ‘Call Em Out Fridays’ segment shines the spotlight on one of the most physically gifted fighters in the history of the sport, arguably the most supremely talented fighter over the past 20 years. Once aptly dubbed ‘Superman’, this smoking hot Olympic medalist came to the sport equipped with an ashtray of assets holding everything from amazing speed, to power in both hands, to cat-like reflexes, and serving as a cherry-on-top was a huge flair for showmanship that made him highly entertaining to watch as well. Of all the things mentioned in that sentence, the word ashtray is perhaps the most notable, as recent years have seen a once untouchable image go up in smoke, leaving enough rubbish to be noticed in the corner, yet no longer quite enough to command that center-of-the-room type attention he continues to seek. Some feel age was the culprit……some feel boredom with the sport set in…..others simply chalk it up as another case of Northern Exposure, which is common street vernacular for a not-so-durable chin being exposed. Whatever it was, no question, the answer revealed was the fact that things for Roy Jones are no longer the same. Or are they? Here lies the million dollar question. We’ve seen his rise in the sport, we’ve seen his fall in the sport, and now, it appears that we’re on the brink of seeing his near successful attempt to rise yet again..
After considering his humbling losses at the hands of southpaw Antonio Tarver and the rugged Glen Johnson, many felt there was no way Jones could ever redeem himself. Perhaps not a very well thought out position when one considers that only 8 months prior to his initial struggles with Tarver, this was the same man who had gone to the heavyweight division and performed a feat that had not been done in practically hundred years. In the aftermath of that feat, his troubles materialized, but let his supporters tell it, things only went that way as a result of not only having to go back down to the light-heavyweight division, but also shed the 20+ pounds that made him big enough to attempt such a feat to begin with. When you listen to those who feel that the weight issue was in fact the culprit in his fall from graces, the argument gets really compelling when you consider that a man who probably had less than 4% body fat to begin with, subsequently had to lose so much weight in such a short period of time. The operative question here is what did he have to shed? There was no belly to burn, or no fat to free. So what did he shed? Logically, it was muscles, nutrients, and those other elements of the human anatomy that provide strength and durability. Sounds great in theory, but a bit unproven and in reality, unknown, so the critics will steadfast in their inclination to remove it from the list of legitimate possibilities. The next theory was age. Was he in fact aging too much at the time of his rapid decline? Well, at the time of his showdown with Tarver, Jones was a modest 33 years old with a stellar 48-1 record, blemished only in part by a disqualification against Montell Griffin that he would later avenge. That truth would tell most that despite his near 50 fights at the time, there was still more than enough gas in the tank to reach his destination. Perhaps some of his supporters would point to this alibi, but the reality is that 33 is far from an age for the washed-up crew, so his critics would probably win this argument as well in saying it’s another excuse.
Of all the remaining theories, the one that supporters have had the hardest time shaking was the one questioning whether or not his chin was in fact exposed? Like each of the other arguments, this one depends on who does the talking and who chooses to listen. Leading up to the first showdown with Antonio Tarver, Jones’ cornerman Alton Merkerson stated that he was a little concerned because Jones was “getting hit with a few more shots than usual”. To some, that argument has age and reflexes written all over it, while to others, it was the grand entrance to the now famous question of Jones’ chin. Although Jones has escaped many onslaughts with his reflexes in the past, prior to the Tarver and Johnson fights, his chin had been tested, yet in the end, he always had enough to stop the opponent before it (his chin) could be tested to the point where we saw him get stopped. That supporters argument combats those of the critics, but at the end of the day, whether Jones is coming or going won’t come down to what either side will say. It will all come down to what he does. Since his KO losses, Jones has fought to an impressive 5-1 record, with the only bump in the road coming against an undefeated Hall-of-Famer in the U.K.’s Joe Calzaghe. After witnessing his destruction of Jeff Lacy, it appears that his speed, reflexes, and passion for the game is back in tact. Conventional wisdom would tell each of us to proceed with caution, but clearly, Jones is still a top talent in the sport. The aforementioned title of this piece raises the question of whether or not his career is a closed chapter or an open book? But a victory over Danny Green next week in Australia would remix that notion, reminding us that his ring setbacks are closed chapters, and his career is indeed still an open book. Until the verdict is read, there’s no way of knowing precisely how to interpret that title, but as I close this chapter, we leave the book open to find out. Tune in next week as Roy Jones Jr. takes on Australian Danny Green. (VERSUS NETWORK – IN THE U.S.)
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexmail@yahoo.com, 954-292-7346, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), Facebook, and Myspace).