Body Blows has shifted its focus to a weekly reaction of boxing news and fights. That being said, there is a lot of fallout from last weekend’s fight between Roy Jones Jr and Joe Calzaghe…
What’s Up With Roy?
Roy Jones Jr looked all of his 39 years of age last Saturday against Joe Calzaghe. Despite scoring a first round knockdown, Roy Jones Jr was unable to capitalize and Joe Calzaghe stole the momentum from his opponent. Jones Jr showed his swagger that made him so dominant in the 90’s but it only lasted six minutes. Joe Calzaghe looked more like the vintage Roy Jones Jr and used his accurate flurries and awkward angles to dominate Roy Jones Jr over 12 rounds.
The fight proved that Roy Jones Jr can no longer fight at an elite level. Bernard Hopkins would embarrass him. He can always get a fight given his name recognition, but he shouldn’t. Roy Jones Jr should retire. Losing your last fight to Joe Calzaghe is not a bad way to go out. Motivation has never been a strong suit for Jones Jr. Now that his skills are no longer a cut above his opponents, Jones Jr would be best to call it a career at this point instead of risking further embarrassment.
Retiring undefeated is almost unfathomable in today’s boxing landscape and it would be a difficult prospect to pass on.
No Ordinary Joe
Joe Calzaghe looked great last weekend and the fight placed an exclamation point at the end of his career. Retiring undefeated is almost unfathomable in today’s boxing landscape and it would be a difficult prospect to pass on. Max Kellerman of HBO posed Calzaghe the challenge of Chad Dawson after the fight but the Welshman was non-committal. Dawson is the next young stud but Calzaghe has been there and done that. Jeff Lacy was the next guy. Mikkel Kessler was the next guy. There will always be a new young fighter waiting to challenge Calzaghe. He has nothing left to prove and a fight against Chad Dawson is an unnecessary risk. Joe Calzaghe should also hang up his gloves.
Retirement would place Joe Calzaghe in a very small stable of fighters that retired as undefeated world champions. The list includes Rocky Marciano, Sven Ottke, Ricardo Lopez and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Sven Ottke ironically held a world title in the same weight class as Calzaghe but the two never met in the ring. As a boxing fan I would love to see Joe Calzaghe face Chad Dawson. If I were Calzaghe, however, it wouldn’t make much sense. He has an entire legacy to lose with that fight, a legacy that will only grow stronger with each passing day as an undefeated world champion.
November Fights
Boxing is strong in November with three consecutive fight cards on HBO:
Nov 15 – Jeff Lacy vs. Jermain Taylor
Nov 22 – Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi
Nov 29 – Paul Williams vs. Verno Phillips
This is followed by the huge Dec 6th bout between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. Stay tuned to Inside Fights for continued coverage of boxing and mixed martial arts.
