By Chris Williams: It’s been five years since Roy Jones Jr. (53-5, 39 KO’s) was stopped in back to back fights against Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson. Since then, Jones has been able to stay upright, albeit against much softer and lighter hitting opponents. On Saturday night, Jones will be facing the hardest puncher in years when he tangles with knockout artist Jeff Lacy (25-2, 17 KO’s) in a 12 round bout at the Gulf Coast Arena, in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Jones, 40, feels confident that he’ll not only stay on his feet but will also win by a knockout of his own. That may very well be, but I hope Jones isn’t overlooking the still lethal power of the 32-year-old Lacy. Sure, Lacy hasn’t look good since being soundly beaten by Joe Calzaghe in 2006, but Lacy still has plenty of power in both hands, more than enough to knockout a fighter with a shaky chin like Jones.
Lacy had Jermain Taylor briefly hurt in their November 2008 bout, and was robbed of a knockdown. Granted, Lacy ended up losing the fight by a lopsided 12 round decision, but he still had his moments in that fight. Lacy doesn’t have to worry about facing Taylor on Saturday night nor a prime version of Jones.
This could end up being a lot easier for Lacy then many people think if he can land one of his big left hooks or fight hands. Johnson, who stopped Jones in the 9th round in September 2004, realized that all you need to do is apply a lot of pressure on Jones and eventually the knockout will come.
Lacy is going to have to use the same approach, because he can’t afford to let Jones move around the ring unmolested doing whatever he pleases. Lacy will have to back Jones up and try to get him against the ropes where Lacy can pound away at Jones with big power shots.
It may not be as hard as some people think it is, because Jones, since he’s gotten older, voluntarily backs up to the ropes on his own in each round so that he can rest his legs. Lacy is the wrong opponent to lay on the ropes. Jones will be at a huge risk if he tries to fight off the ropes against Lacy.
It doesn’t matter that Lacy has poor hand speed, if Jones plays the rope a dope strategy against Lacy, then he’s asking for big trouble. Jones has had things pretty much his way since being defeated by Tarver and Johnson in three consecutive fights in 2004-2005. Jones has taken on marginal fighters who were tailor made for him.
The one exception to this rule was Joe Calzaghe, who embarrassed Jones by beating him by an easy 12 round decision last year in November. In terms of punching power, Lacy presents the biggest risk for Jones since his fight with Johnson in 2004.
I think Jones is going to be in grave danger in this fight if he can’t stay in the middle of the ring. In the middle of the ring, Lacy is much less dangerous due to his lack of hand speed. However, if he’s given the opportunity to work Jones over on the ropes, Lacy will be very dangerous, as lethal as Johnson was in his bout with Jones.
I’d like to think that Roy will be disciplined enough to stay off the ropes against Lacy, but due to Jones’ advanced age and inability to fight hard for all three minutes of every round, I expect him to retreat to the ropes at some point in every round. In turn, that will give Lacy and excellent chance of hurting and knocking Jones out.
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