In part 2 of my interview with former 4 division World Champion, Roy Jones Jr, I get his thoughts on a man who like himself is fighting well into his forty?s, Bernard Hopkins. Roy talks about how long he can realistically see Hopkins continuing to fight in the ring and what fights he sees out there for the ageless warrior. Jones also shares his views on the upcoming match up between Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios, and how he ultimately sees the fight playing out. Additionally Roy speaks on the amount of public interest for a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, and who he sees out there that may be a threat to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Here is what Roy Jones Jr. had to say. Jenna J: Even though you are forty four, that age doesn?t really mean that much when you have guys like Bernard Hopkins fighting at forty eight.
Roy Jones Jr: That?s exactly right, so age is only an excuse now. That?s why people say ?Why are you still fighting?? How can you tell me I can?t, I?m forty eight years old and I?m still doing it, so if I say I?m too old, that?s gotta be an excuse.
Jenna J: Speaking of Bernard, he is still fighting and winning despite his age. How long do you think he can realistically continue to fight, being that he?s such a swift, intelligent boxer?
Roy Jones Jr: Bernard, he could fight till he?s fifty five.
Jenna J: You think so?
Roy Jones Jr: Yeah, he already ugly, so he won?t look no worse, so he could fight till he?s fifty five.
Jenna J: What fights do you see out there for him?
Roy Jones Jr: I don?t really look at his fights for him, I don?t really see fights for him. Of course we?re one and one, so if he wanna break the tie, of course I?m always interested and open, but other than that I don?t really care to see him fight nobody. He doesn?t really entertain me too much so I don?t see it. I wish him luck and if he does a good job of winning, then he keep winning, but I don?t really care who he beats.
Jenna J: Roy, there is one thing you?ve always said on this show, there is one belt that you didn?t get that you wanted and that was the cruiserweight title. Have you dropped the inhibition to get that title or is that still something in your plans?
Roy Jones Jr: It?s still something in my plans, as a matter of fact in the Bobby Gunn fight I?ll probably fight for the WBU cruiser weight title and I hope that will entice one of the champions to give me a shot at another world title and I?ll go for it.
Jenna J: Roy, on November the 23rd you will be calling a fight on HBO, it will be Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios. What are your thoughts on that fight?
Roy Jones Jr: That will be one of the best fight ever because both of those guys are two of the most entertaining guys you ever wanna watch. I have high expectations over watching that fight.
Jenna J: A lot of people aren?t giving Brandon any chance at all because he?s only fought one southpaw in his whole career and that southpaw dropped him twice. Do you think that people are underestimating him?
Roy Jones Jr: No, I don?t think they are underestimating him, Pacquiao is a hell of a puncher so no they?re not underestimating him, they?re not underestimating what he?s doing and they?re not underestimating who he?s fighting either.
At the same time he has a big heart and just because he drops him it don?t mean nothing. If Pacquiao drops him, that won?t surprise me, but if Pacquiao drops him and doesn?t finish him then Pacquiao is gonna have his hands full.
Jenna J: You mentioned if he doesn?t finish him, do you think that fight could go the distance?
Roy Jones Jr: The fight wont go the distance because if he don?t finish Brandon, then Brandon will finish him.
Jenna J: Oh.
Roy Jones Jr: It ain?t gonna go the distance.
Jenna J: Ok. Well Roy, on the boxing scene, Floyd Mayweather Jr, everyone wants to know what?s out there for him, he keeps winning every fight. Do you see anyone out there realistically that could beat him now?
Roy Jones Jr: Boxing is a strange sport, there?s always somebody that has a style for you and creates problems for your style. I don?t see nobody that?s better than he is, nobody on paper that looks like they can, one of those can have a style that?s unorthodox enough to cause him enough problems that they could frustrate him and make it a hard night for him.
They just gonna find who that guy is and take it at the right time. Floyd has been a very good consummate professional of what he?s been doing, he?s always in shape, always ready and as long as he?s like this it?s gonna be very tough to beat him.
Jenna J: You mentioned that an unorthodox style, someone like Sergio Martinez. Do you think that could be the kind of style that gives him trouble?
Roy Jones Jr: That kind of style can give him trouble. The good thing about a style like that is he?s a southpaw so Floyd don?t usually take on many southpaws and I don?t know if he?s gonna take on Martinez, but Martinez is definitely the kind of guy that will make it a very hard night for Floyd.
Jenna J: Last few questions for you Roy. I recently spoke to Floyd Mayweather Sr, he said the fight that he wants to make now is a fight with Manny Pacquiao and his son. Do you think that fight can realistically happen?
Roy Jones Jr: It can realistically happen but at this point I think the fans aren?t as interested in it as they once was. If Floyd beats Pacquiao now, they gonna say ?Oh yeah he beat him now, but you didn?t beat the Manny Pacquiao that we wanted you to beat.?
Jenna J: So you think if that fight happens it wouldn?t be as interesting because Pacquiao has lost?
Roy Jones Jr: Some people would still watch it but because he?s now been diminished and knocked out by Juan Marquez, who cares? If Floyd lost that would be very bad for him because if he lost that would be the only news.
If he beat Pacquiao they?re gonna say ?Oh, of course, Marquez knocked him out so how can Floyd not beat him, if Floyd beat Juan Manuel Marquez so easy.? So if he wins it does nothing for him, only thing he can do is lose and that will do good for Pacquiao but won?t do Floyd no good, so I think it?s crazy for Floyd to even give him that chance and fighting him now.
Jenna J: Roy, I want to ask you about what you?re doing now, not just in terms of the commentating but what other projects are you working on?
Roy Jones Jr: I?m just doing a little promoting here and there, and just doing my commentary gig, doing what I do.
Jenna J: Speaking of what you do, the fans always enjoy watching, is there any message you want to pass on to them?
Roy Jones Jr: I wanna say keep your eyes open, if I come back it?s gonna be back it?s gonna be for real. See what happens with Bobby Gunn, keep your eyes open!
