HOLYFIELD AND JONES: SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS

By David L. Ross

 


 

I make this plea directly to Evander Holyfield (following last weekend’s debacle of a fight), as well as indirectly to Roy Jones, Jr. I hope you guys are reading this, somewhere.

Watching Evander Holyfield get ripped apart this past weekend reminds me of why certain other fighters SHOULD NOT follow in the Warrior’s footsteps and continue to fight well past their prime, simply for a paycheck. Was anyone else in pain watching this supposed “Heavyweight Extravaganza?”

I guess one could lump Mike Tyson into this category as well, although it’s arguable simply because Iron Mike still has some, albeit very little, mystique left, based solely upon past history and shenanigans. (Come on, a tiger tattoo on your face? That’s still worth some noting here and there). Much like a train wreck, we cannot stop watching the oddity Tyson has become. But this article isn’t about the mystique of Tyson, or the train wreck his career has become; this is about this disappearance of mystique surrounding one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters the sport of boxing has ever seen—Roy, where have your skills gone?

I know what you’re going to say. In my other chosen profession as an attorney, I get paid to know what the other side is going to say, usually before they say it. Another article about Roy, ho-hum, boring, been there, done that. But the boxing public and general populace have become so focused on the present and future, that often times the past gets overlooked. Aren’t we forgetting that just one year ago Roy Jones Jr. was still considered as the best pound-for-pound around? One of the greatest of all time? Killer-quick, with power to match? Sky’s the limit? Yes, that same Roy Jones, Jr., which naysayers now deem washed up? Most of us like to think of Holyfield as the consummate warrior, but after seeing him this past weekend, he just looked like an old guy way past his prime, hoping for a paycheck. Sad. I don’t want to think of Roy like that.

I’m not endorsing Roy’s return to the ring. In fact, I’m noting he should hang it up, because his heart is not into it. Without speaking to the man, of course this is opinion based on interviews with HBO following the Trinidad-Mayorga fight, as well as Roy’s actual performances during his last three fights, two with Tarver, and the most recent failure against journeyman Glencoffee Johnson. Roy was out boxed in his first match against Tarver, outclassed in the rematch, and just plain wasn’t into the fight against Johnson. Those who follow Roy know he wasn’t the same fighter in those three matches as he has been throughout his career. To wit, in all three fights, something happened to a degree to Roy which hadn’t happened previously. He got hit. Hard. Plain and simple. His speed failed him. It’s easier to get hit when you’re distracted, if you don’t believe me, try it sometime. Find a fellow man, make disreputable comments regarding his mother, his skills, and his overall appearance, then while he attempts to beat you into submission, try to buy car insurance while all of this is going on. You’re going to be distracted, you’re going to be hit. That’s what Roy was doing in his last two fights. Buying insurance. Thinking about other things than the opponent in front of him. If you follow the man’s career, you know he wasn’t excited about those fights as the fights progressed.

Roy has long been one of the best at boxing, in several different weight classes. This is the guy who beat Bernard Hopkins, to name a few. Roy had been the best in several different weight classes, for longer than most fighters ever will. But how impressive can he be at this stage of the game? Tarver has his number, a rematch with Johnson isn’t worth the trouble, and Roy’s performance against John Ruiz, a mediocre heavyweight at best, doesn’t evoke memories of great fights like Hagler-Hearns, Hagler-Leonard, Pryor-Arguello, etc. I could go on and on. The Fire seems to have left Roy, as well as some speed and evasiveness which made his career stellar. This was more evident against journeyman Johnson, as through eight rounds Roy looked slower, older, and like a man who didn’t want to be at this supposed “comeback trail” fight. Johnson simply was the aggressor and punched Roy more than he’d ever been hit in recent memory.

 So all that being said, it’s been wonderful Roy. Please stay away. Don’t follow in the footsteps of the Warrior. It’s more important for me to remember you when your heart was into the sport, and your body and hands followed your imposing will. Age might not always change desire, but it sure has something to do with a decline in speed. So what’s the next logical move? What else can Roy hope to accomplish in this sport? Fighting Tyson? Too little, too late, you missed your window on that one. Rematch Ruiz? Please. I’d just as soon go to sleep early than watch that snooze-fest. Fight the winner of Tarver/Johnson? Why? We’ve seen that fight already. Maybe a rubber match with Tarver is the most likely to appeal to fans, and Tarver should expose Johnson’s lack of ring generalship on December 18. Then, there is always hanging up the gloves, going out with a little bit of dignity, albeit on a downside of a fantastic career.

Careers are what we make of them. In my opinion, Roy’s still got some legacy left. Let’s remember his career as we should, with him being a whirling dervish of punches, dodges, bobs, and weaves, heading down into a beautiful Pensacola sunset. That’s how I want to remember Roy, not as the next guy with a loss itching for a sad comeback.

Thanks for the memories, Roy.

Questions? Comments? Write David L. Ross

11-16-2004

 

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