If this continues much longer, as it?s likely to do, we?ll eventually see him box a kangaroo or wrestle an octopus?
Anyone with an ounce of sense wants Roy Jones to retire. Friends, family, handlers, opponents, business partners, colleagues, and even complete strangers have been begging him to retire for a decade.
It was hoped, since hope springs eternal, that he would see the light and get out before it was too late.
But chances are it?s already too late.
Jones was as one of the greatest fighters of his era and his first-ballot enshrinement in Canastota is a given. But at the age of 47 and with a respectable 62-9 (45 KOs) record to his credit, Jones appears to believe that he still has what it takes to compete at the championship level.
He is mistaken. He does not.
When he?s not fighting men unfit to carry his jockstrap, Roy Jones is getting knocked out. He has lost eight of his last 21 fights dating back to 2004, when he lost three in a row, two by early stoppage, to Antonio Tarver (twice) and Glen Johnson.
Calls for his retirement grew louder between 2009 and 2011, after he dropped three in a row, two by knockout, to Danny Green, Bernard Hopkins, and Dennis Lebedev.
And in his last fight, where he was unceremoniously separated from his senses by Enzo Maccarinelli, even diehard Jones supporters came to realize that whatever he once possessed in terms of lightning-fast reflexes and boxing acumen, he possesses no longer.
Jones is a shadow of his former self. He is chasing a dream that is destined to become a nightmare.
Having succeeded in besmirching his reputation, Jones continues to attract attention, but for all the wrong reasons.
His latest attention-grabber is a plan to fight an exhibition in Phoenix on March 20, on pay-per-view no less, against some lucky fan that will walk away with $100,000 if he can knock out Jones.
It?s a novel idea in a sport that needs novel ideas like it needs a hole in the head. But Jones is his own man and won?t be dissuaded from pushing ahead with his latest ingenious plan, just as he?s never been dissuaded from anything.
One of these days one of these punches will end the folly of what remains of his once brilliant career. Until then, boxing is going to be subjected to watching a living legend get his brain bashed in, or, if we?re lucky, witnessing stunts where Jones in the center of attention in a bona fide three-ring circus.
It?s only a matter of time until Jones get badly hurt, assuming he?s not already been badly hurt, and his lack of judgment suggests that?s the case.
Maybe we should count our lucky stars that he?s not demanding a rematch with Maccarinelli.
Maybe we should consider ourselves blessed that he?s just fighting a fan on pay-per-view.
But if this continues much longer, as it?s likely to do, we?ll eventually see him box a kangaroo or wrestle an octopus.
There ought to be a way to protect Roy Jones Jr. from himself.
But of course there is not.
