By James Slater: The career of all time great Roy Jones Junior is not finished yet. As fans feared would be the case, the faded former superstar has decided to have at least one more fight. Now aged 41 and coming off two comprehensive defeats, Jones will box 37-year-old Danny Santiago in his home town of Pensacola in Florida on October 7th. Fightnews.com have announced how the fight is set, and that it will be made official at a press conference next week.
Santiago, 31-4-1(19), won his last two fights, both bouts taking place at a few pounds above light-heavyweight, and he has been in with some big names before. Losing inside the distance to the likes of Antonio Tarver and Zsolt Erdei (in a WBO 175-pound title challenge), “The Bronx Bomber” will be hoping to make the most of his latest chance against a big name.
Stopped three times in his four pro losses, Santiago must be wary of Jones’ still considerable punching-power so as to not get halted for a fourth time.. For though Jones – who lost to Danny Green last December and then Bernard Hopkins back in April – is nowhere near the force he once was, he remains a capable puncher. Jones, despite having faded reflexes compared to the laser-like speed he had in his prime, still has reasonably fast hands, too.
The weight the October 7th fight will be fought at has not yet been made clear, but it is assumed the bout will take place at light-heavy. And with no title at stake, the fight will probably be scheduled for ten-rounds. Can Jones, who will turn 42 in January of next year, hammer out a decision, or score his first stoppage win in well over a year?
For, begging Santiago’s pardon, Jones has to be looked at as the favourite to win next month. The question, though, is what then? Jones is clearly finding it hard quitting the sport, and if he wins against Santiago it’s a certainty he will box on. There has been talk of Jones possibly following one-time victim James Toney’s lead, and venturing into UFC/MMA, but who really wants to see that?
If he does stick around in boxing after a win over Santiago, however, are there any big fights out there for Jones Junior? His place in The Hall of Fame is secure, and the 54-7(40) legend has nothing at all to prove. Despite this, it seems there is a good chance we will be watching Jones fight for a good while longer yet.