If a fight with Ovill can?t be made, Jones will adjust the periscope and hone in on Enzo Maccarinelli once again?
Like a submarine captain using a periscope, Roy Jones Jr. (62-8) seems to be scanning every bit of the boxing landscape to find his next opponent. First it?s this guy in the Caribbean; then it?s this possibility in Germany (Huck) or maybe another in Poland (Glowacki).
In a short-lived effort to stay busy, he was also scheduled to face Danny Santiago on August 29 in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, but it was called off several days beforehand because of an impending hurricane. Then, Jones was scheduled to face 42-year-old Tony Moran in a cruiserweight bout on September 12 at the Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool, England?but pulled out of the fight with little explanation.
The 46-year-old Jones, who has won eight straight bouts with the last five coming by stoppage, has been active but has now slowed down a bit to explore what might be his best shot at a major world cruiserweight championship contest.
Recently, it appeared that the new Russian citizen was reportedly set to fight Welsh former cruiserweight Enzo Maccarinelli on November 28 in Jones? ?home turf? of Russia?provided certain things happen prior to that date, but now it looks like that one won?t come off given the many hurdles that Enzo must overcome.
The periscope then settles on British champion Ovill ?The Upsetter? McKenzie (25-12) if the Brit via Jamaica is successful in this weekend?s bout against Victor Ramirez for the IBF cruiserweight title. But if a fight with Ovill can?t be made, Jones will adjust the periscope and hone in on Enzo Maccarinelli once again.
?The Upsetter?
McKenzie is no easy fight for anyone and was 14-9 when he entered a Prizefighter Tournamament on May 19, 2009. The day after, The Upsetter?s record would match his nickname as his mark moved to 18-8; he had won the Prizefighter cruiserweight title held at Earls Court Arena in Kensington, London, with four straight astonishing upsets over heavily favored opponents. However, anyone familiar with Ovill?s history knew that this was his destiny. You see, Ovill was born in Jamaica (though he calls Derbyshire in the UK his home). Beginning in 1980, Jamaican boxers pulled off a series of monster upsets that caused serious boxing fans throughout the world to take notice.
The rugged and aggressive Ovill has since become the reigning Commonwealth light heavy champ and on November 8, 2012, he stopped, albeit prematurely, the heavy hitting Maccarinelli, and has emerged as somewhat of a force in his division. Enzo avenged that defeat with a TKO win over McKenzie nine months later. However, McKenzie, who specializes in upsets, has won his last four bouts and his now poised to win his first world title.
The Irony
Former Jones nemesis Antonio Tarver struggles to remain relevant in a division where he has little chance to reach the top and where viable options remain scarce.
Road Warrior Glen Johnson has become a gatekeeper for up-and-coming fighters.
Danny Green also struggles to remain relevant as he returns after a three-year layoff.
Denis Lebedev came back from a horrific beating at the hands of Guillermo Jones in May 2013 and is the WBA cruiserweight champion. Roy must stay away from Denis.
Meanwhile, Jones himself seems to be sorting out any number of options as he continues on.
Ted Sares is one of the world?s oldest active power lifters and holds several world and state records. He enjoys writing about boxing.
