?I had no clue that I would win the heavyweight title. No clue about the cruiserweight. I am ready for whatever God has in store for me??
It?s not unusual to see Michael Jordan sitting nearby at a local restaurant in Charlotte or linebacker phenom Luke Kuechly checking out a Hornets game, but if someone recognized Roy Jones Jr. in the Charlotte area, you may just think he?s here on a layover.
Fortunately, that?s not the case as the legendary fighter has landed in Charlotte, NC, and is fighting out of the nearby Cabarrus Arena in Concord, NC tonight as his quest for one last hurrah continues.
That last hurrah signifies Jones? final attempt for one more world title; this time at cruiserweight. With his focus on Marco Huck?s WBO cruiserweight title, Jones will take what he considers a quick pit stop en route to Huck. Tonight, Jones (59-8, 42 KOs) faces Willie Williams (14-8-2, 4 KOs) in a cruiserweight bout held at the Cabarrus Arena. The significance of the event is not lost on local promoter Mike Long of Money Mike Promotions.
?As soon as I found out that he would consider fighting here, he was on my radar,? said Long. ?You are not going to get another name period in this area. When you name the five greatest fighters in our lifetime Roy Jones is right up there with Ali and Tyson and those guys. I?ve been trying to put this card together since December.?
Crediting local friendships with his Charlotte connection, Jones, who has been fighting professionally since his debut against Ricky Randall in 1987, recognizes the changing dynamic of the sport and his career. It?s hard to believe that he started at 157 pounds and is now searching for a world title in his fifth weight class. Even though Jones still thrives on the left hook to the body or the head, he realizes that he does not move like he used to.
?My lateral movement has been missing in my past fights,? said Jones. ?But I am bringing it back. I lost it before, but now I found it again.?
One thing that he hasn?t lost is the old confidence. Sure, Jones, at 46, is in decline, but he still exudes that same matter-of-fact assuredness and enthusiasm that helped make him one of the most dynamic fighters and sports personalities of the last 25 years. At times, he sounds like the old Roy when he exclaims, ?I play on Roy Jones? team. You just have to deal with it,? in response to a question about having to adapt to other fighters? styles.
But even he couldn?t have predicted the path he has taken.
?I had no clue,? said Jones, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Thursday. ?I had no clue that I would win the heavyweight title. No clue about the cruiserweight. I am ready for whatever God has in store for me.?
Whatever Williams has in store for Jones may not be enough to unseat the great fighter. Jones hinted at the need to go to the body early and often in hopes of making quick work of Williams. As often as Jones discussed his desire to face Huck, the WBO champ, he couldn?t help but wander back to the past.
?Beating James Toney was the biggest victory of my career,? said Jones. ?It didn?t get any better for me. And he even had a better, more powerful shoulder roll than Floyd does.?
Not everyone of this generation is aware of how great Jones was in his prime, but Charlotte resident, Quinton Rankin (7-2, 6 KOs), who faces Craig Duncan at 175 pounds on the undercard, always viewed Jones as an all-time great and was honored to be fighting alongside him.
?I loved Roy Jones because I could relate to him,? said Rankin, who has traveled to Atlanta, Greensboro, and Columbia, SC to find sparring partners. ?I watch guys and then try to go out and do what they do. I liked Tyson, but I couldn?t relate to him like I could Roy.?
Admiring Jones? speed and movement, Rankin looks up to the great fighter, but he is also trying to carve out his own niche with a new trainer leading his camp. Having dealt with injuries and struggled to get meaningful fights over the last five years, Rankin didn?t let the frustrations derail his career. Although Rankin has worked with various trainers, he hadn?t developed a comfortable rapport with any of them ? until now.
Having recognized that his success would depend upon having a consistent cornerman, Rankin seems to have found a perfect balance in Adam Esposito ? a trainer who knows when to lead and when to step back. As a Muay Thai convert, Esposito has come into Rankin?s life at the perfect time.
?I supplement anything I can offer,? said Esposito. ?He?s so disciplined. We just clicked. I am not the type of trainer to point fingers at anyone. Quinton?s personality makes him who he is. It?s an honor to work with him. He?s blood. He?s family.?
Whether it is Jones finding that one last glimpse of greatness or Rankin finding that trainer who just might make a difference, it?s all about timing. And for many North Carolinians who have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of a great boxing presence, it?s about time.
