The Roy Jones Jr vs Atiyo results are in…
Fight legend and future Boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. recorded his first opening round stoppage in 17 years (August 1997 vs Montell Griffin) earlier this evening in Krasnodar, Russia. Looking to send a message he’s not finished as a relevant fighter, an aggressive Jones, now winner of five in a row, unleashed a crippling shot to Hany Atiyo’s solar plexus that sent him crumbling to the canvas in immense pain.
Atiyo, probably unable to breathe, was counted out.
The knockout serves as Jones’ second in as many fights as he improved to 59-8, 42 KOs. His opponent dropped to 14-3, 10 KOs.
Should Roy Jones Jr, who will turn 46 in January, now be considered a powerbroker at cruiserweight?
Probably not yet… Tonight’s opponent was just that – an “opponent.” However, the first round fireworks demonstrate Junior means business.
Eight weeks ago, despite looking a bit slow, Jones easily owned the outgunned Courtney Fry (18-6, 6 KOs) before knocking him down with his vaunted left hook in Round 5. Fry’s corner would stop the fight soon thereafter.
The last thing an aging fighter losses is punching power and Roy probably possesses threatening, although not bloodcurdling, power as a cruiserweight.
So who is next for Jones who just recorded his eighth career first round stoppage and has managed to fight three times in the last 10 months?
Look for him to face another limited opponent. In the end, Jones won’t be accessed by winning but, instead, how he wins. If he continues to look monstrous, albeit against journeyman level opponents, his stock will slowly rise. Aside from losing, the last thing Jones needs at this point in time is a competitive decision victory over one of these ‘nobodies.’
Over the past three years, there have been rumors of Jones possibly facing WBC Cruiserweight Champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, 1990s former middleweight king Steve Collins and top 10 heavyweight Tyson Fury as well as MMA standout Anderson Silva.
