Why Isn’t Roy Jones Jr. Trying to Fight Tarver or Johnson?
August 18th, 2009
By Chris Williams: Okay, Roy Jones Jr. (54-5, 40 KO’s) looked good last Saturday night in beating up a shot Jeff Lacy and stopping him in the 10th round, but let’s not get carried away here. This was Lacy, who hasn’t been the same fighter he was back before losing to Joe Calzaghe and suffering a shoulder injury in his fight against Vitali Tsypko.
Jones had target practice against a limited fighter who clearly isn’t the same fighter at this point in his career. Since getting the win, Jones fans have suddenly come out of the woodwork saying that Jones’ punch resistance has gotten better and that he’s now good enough to grab one or all of the light heavyweight titles should he see fit. I hate to say it but that’s a pipe dream on their part.
First of all, Jones doesn’t appear to be on a collision course with any of the top light heavyweights, let alone one of the champions. Jones, 40, plans on going after 36-year-old Danny Green next later on this year. That sounds like a fight that is a good time waster for Jones, and one that’s probably a safe bet that Jones will win. Green has fought only twice since coming out of a two year retirement this year.
Why would Jones want to fight Green when Jones has unfinished business with fighters like Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson, both of whom knocked Jones cold in bouts in 2004. At the time, Jones was only a year removed from bulking up to heavyweight and capturing the World Boxing Association heavyweight crown with a 12 round decision win over John Ruiz in March 2003.
Jones then had to trim off close to 25 pounds of pure muscle to get back down to the light heavyweight division. Jones was never the same fighter after that point. He defeated Tarver by a questionable 12 round majority decision in November 2003, a fight that many boxing fans felt that Jones lost.
Then in a rematch six months later in May 2003, Tarver knocked Jones out in the 2nd round with a big left hand. In the next fight, Jones was then knocked out in the 9th round by Glen Johnson. Six years have gone by since Jones lost both of those fights and he appears to have recovered from the knockouts and the weight draining without any ill effects.
So why isn’t Jones gunning for those two fighters instead of someone like Green? Either of those fighters would be the perfect opponent for Jones to fight now at this point in his career because he could shut down his critics by getting revenge against the only two fighters ever to knock him out. No doubt, it wouldn’t be easy to beat either one of them, because both of them appear to be still fighting at a high level.
But, both Johnson and Tarver are 40 year-old, slower than Jones and very vulnerable if Jones were to fight the way he did on Saturday night against Lacy. So why isn’t Jones manning up and fighting Tarver and Johnson instead of Green? Is Jones afraid, is that it?
22 Responses to “Why Isn’t Roy Jones Jr. Trying to Fight Tarver or Johnson?”
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Nobody’s mentioned how a Green fight has a cruiserweight championship at the winning end of it… and both Tarver and Johnson have nothing. Revenge? Redemption? It’s nice if you can get it, but it doesn’t make history and doesn’t make money.
People want Roy to prove something to them personally and he doesn’t owe any of them anything. Lacy wasn’t ever a great fighter to begin with and he was exposed overseas when he got slapped and cuffed to death.
Roys not the fighter he was but give him credit for putting in the work and attempting to reinvent himself and instead of calling out all the names you’d like him to fight for your own personal satisfaction.
Tarvers finding out how the weight loss affects a fighter. Too bad he did it for a movie and not boxing history. Without Mcgirt in his corner, he may as well call it a career. The rematch against Dawson wasn’t worth the paper the tickets were printed on.
Speaking of rematches, Johnsons fighting for a title only because Dawson like rematches with guys hes already beat and has natural advantages over just like he did with Tarver.
Boxing has replaced skilled phenomenal boxers with one dimensional volume punchers that rely on youth and live on a diet of supplements to get them through fights. Sadly none of these volume punchers (dawson,P.Williams,Bradley, Alexander) have shown themselves to be anything special. All Flash and No Cash. –Unfortunately the Crop of heavies is no better, chinny champs relying on size and robotic jabs to wear down out of shape opponents who have no stamina. Just my opinion of course.
Could Jones beat Rocky?
Tarver did so shh.
On a serious note – I think Jones knows he aint top LHW anymore so he’s happy in the shadows.
Wait thats more bull. Jones wants the limelight or no light. Building fan base back up?
Everybody wants to talk down on RJ, but he held titles in many weight divisions. Give the man his props, no one stay on top forever. If he out to make his money, so be it.
I’d like to see Roy retire before he gets hurt. After all he admitted being shot years ago.
Lacy has been proven to be nothing more than an over-rated average fighter who posed no threat for Jones, you could tell from the opening round just how that fight was going to pan out. Roy can no longer command the centre of the ring like he used to and so obviously lays on the ropes to save energy and protect his shot legs any elite fighter will expose this and make light work of him. I for one don’t want to see the great Roy Jones Jnr get bashed up any more, the guy has nothing left to prove.
give RJ his credit and stop tryin 2 make excuses for the pple he fights,as of rite now i think RJ would beat both of them in a rematch. tarver hasnt really done ne thing since beating jones, tarver should actually thank RJ cuz witout RJ tarver still would be a nobody where is tarver now??? even if RJ fights both of them and beat them pple still gonna make excuses and next thing u knoe pple goin be sayin tarver is shot thats y RJ beat him i mean give the man a break.
Roy Jones is one of the most naturally-gifted fighters in the history of boxing, but unfortunately, he lacks heart and courage. Tarver caught him with a lucky punch in their second fight, and knocked him out. In their third fight, Jones could have avenged that knockout by scoring his own knockout, but he simply ‘chickened’ out.
I believe that Jones still has enough left in his arsenal to beat Tarver, but he lacks the courage to do so, as he demonstrated in the Calzaghe fight. He would have it more difficult to beat Glen Johnson.
Jones used to be my favorite fighter, but I have lost respect for him, owing to the fact that despite his tremendous natural ability, he has no heart.
Matt- he looks good against fighters who arent good or came out of retirement. He was a great fighter but he doesnt have it anymore.
And so what if I dont see Jones in the gym, look at the fights hes picking. At least Johnsons fighting for the title.
Johnson is 40 also, why hasnt Roy asked for a rematch.
rich – well thats a lie that 4sure, do u see roy in the gym, NO! So how on earth can u make a statement like that. i disagree, i think RJJ would hammer tarver now, have u sin how slow hez become, and johnson, dnt be stupid m8 plz! RJJ still looks amazing at 40, u really cnt argue with that.
I say fair play to the guy, hez a living legend and deserves more credit for holdin stong at like 40yrs old than he gets! I agree lacy is rubbish, but jones made him look even worse than he actually is……
You answered your own question. He got knocked out cold by Johnson and Tarver and doesnt want it to happen again so he’ll continue with safe fights. I see Glen in the gym a couple times a week, Jones isnt ready for him.
Guys like Oscar, B-Hop, & RJJ know what they’re doing and certainly know how to build up interest for a bigger pay day.
Take Oscar for example. After losing to Mayweather, he didn’t take a big fight on next, instead he fought little known Steve Forbes prior to another big pay day with Pacquiao.
RJJ has to build interest for himself by continuing to look impressive before he can lure another big name to fight him. Who in their right mind would pay $50 on PPV to see RJJ in another big fight right after the way he looked against Calzaghe???
Same thing with Oscar…..Do you really think anyone wants to see him face someone like Paul Williams or Cotto after the beating he took by Pacquiao??? No, Oscar would have to look good against someone else first if he were to ever think about fighting again, especially if he wants to draw any interest.
Boxing is a business. I agree with Clark24. Roy will probably schedule his future fights in a manner thank will give him maximum return on his $$$ for minimum bruises on his body. Remember Oscar De la’Hoya lost his last fight but cried all the way to the bank.
Agree with Clarkk24. Don’t think Tarver & Johnson are looking for RJJ, they’re probably eyeing rematches with Dawson instead.
RJJ probably did get a little way over his head by going up to heavyweight & then paid the price once he had to lose all that weight to fight Tarver. He may very well be getting more comfortable fighting at his current weight but I won’t deny he’s also no where as good as he once was either.
Danny Green is probably a prelude to bigger fights for RJJ.
well said clarkk24 RJ is the man
Honestly, I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t want to fight those guys, it’s because they aren’t looking to fight him right now. Both Tarver and Johnson knocked RJ out, so to them it’s like what else do you want lol. RJ, is doing good…still fighting and looking better each time after the Joe Calzaghe fight, which is another reason why they don’t care to fight RJ because he looked really shot in that fight. Remember, Hopkins was going to fight RJ if he beat Calzaghe and after that loss Hopkins said RJ is done. I believe once he wins the Cruiser title from Danny Green, people will be knocking down his door again. He knows what he’s doing. Every fight is a setup for something bigger. Stop being so hard on the man. Ya’ll were on his nuts years ago!
Roy jones should fight Chad Dawson for the LH Title or Fight Tomasz Adamk the Crusierweight Champion for his Title. Roy it Time for Action. Roy beat Lacy to easy. Roy is 40 years old and still fight like a 28 year old Champion. Roy still the Boss.
I think Roy should fight that bum Dawson.
because boxing is a business and most boxing fight in australia are ppv this will do good money for roy he’ll promote the whole show and green is a big pull down under. economically it’s an excellent choice for roy he’s a very smart business man
Roy knows he can’t beat Tarver. Tarver even beat Rocky lol.
Seriously though I think Roy will try for something a little bigger after and if he beats Danny Green. Remember when he had those 3 easy fights before fighting Calzaghe? He said it was a 3 fight process to work up to the big one. I think Roy is trying the same thing again. (just hoping for a better result)
why doesn’t he fight kessler?
good enough argument. i at first thought u were just hating, but now that i think about it, he should definitely rematch them. i thnk he could beat tarver. johnson is a wild card though.
look i think either of these fights would be good to watch. but i agree with mike, tarver is no fool and he would have jones right from the first bell
He Needs both those fights again.I would say that he needs to go after Glen Johnson,He needs to get loss avenged.Then Maybe Tarver again but I think Tarver has his number.