Boxer Coming off Life Support to Box

Date: 2008-07-19 20:31:55
Source: http://www.edmontonsun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2008...
Submitted By: Explosive Fight Videos

If you need any further proof of boxing's penchant for shooting itself in the foot, look no further than Madison Square Garden one week from tomorrow.

That's when 39-year-old Roy Jones Jr. will temporarily come off life support and attempt to resucitate his Hall of Fame career in a sham of a fight against 35-year-old Felix Trinidad at the catch weight of 170 pounds.

Not even ubiquitous promoter Don King can make this one smell pretty.

Earlier this week King breathlessly proclaimed the bout "as big as when (George) Foreman fought (Muhammad) Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle." In truth, the $50 pay-per-view ain't even as big as Foreman vs. Steve Zouski.

The mixed martial arts guys love this kind of sleight-of-hand -- especially at a time when boxing was starting to pull some of its old audience out of the MMA quagmire with some legitimately compelling bouts on the horizon. 




Jones vs. Trinidad would've fallen under that heading a decade ago. Now it's just an embarrassment.

Jones was once the best pound-for-pound puncher on the planet. An IBF world champion at middlweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight, he also briefly owned the WBA heavyweight crown after beating John Ruiz in 2003.

His glory days are long gone, however. Since Antonio Tarver took less than five minutes to knock him out in '04, Jones has been KO'd twice en route to losing three of five.

His record of 51-4 belies the fact that his once vaunted speed can now be clocked with a sundial and his reflexes are about as sharp as a cardboard hacksaw.

Meanwhile, Trinidad (42-2) is a five-time world champ with a career KO ratio of 80%, but he's coming off a fearsome beating at the hands of Winky Wright. That was Trinidad's last fight -- and it was nearly three years ago. He's fought exactly twice since 2002.

"I have too much boxing left inside of me, and I want to show that I am still one of the the best fighters in the world," Trinidad told HBO last week. "I feel good at this weight, and it's going to be a great fight."

The hype spewed by Jones was equally vapid: "We both have bombs in our tank and we're phenomenal boxers on top of that. We are both powerful punchers, and it will depend on who gets there first. I will guarantee this, and you can count on it: this will be a superfight that delivers the goods.

"We're going to give fight fans exactly what they expect to see."

Sadly, he's exactly right.

MOLITOR RETURNS

TSN should be promoting its live telecast of Rumble at Rama III as the fistic antidote to Jones-Trinidad.

On the same night that the golden oldies square off in the Big Apple, unbeaten IBF junior featherweight champ Steve Molitor (25-0) of Sarnia, Ont. is defending his title against Mexico's Ricardo Castillo (33-4) in a bout scheduled for 12 rounds at the Casino Rama in Orillia, Ont.

Rod Black will call the action, along with ringside analyst Russ Anber. A live satellite feed will allow Canadian troops in Afghanistan, Egypt, and the Netherlands to watch the fight on the Canadian Forces Radio and Television network.

The crowd-pleasing Molitor, who joins Edmonton's Jelena Mrdjenovich as the only Canadians to own world boxing titles, was a finalist for the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top male athlete in 2007.

KNIGHTS HOST CARD

Some of the best amateur fighters in Alberta will be showcased tomorrow when Stu McGrandle's West Edmonton Knights Boxing Club hosts its second card of the season, starting at 5 p.m.

The Knights venue at 10074 151 St. is specatator-friendly, with tables and general seating available. The card will feature junior Robbie Cusine in the 57 kg. Open 20+ division, along with stylish stablemate Cody Gates.

Should be a good show.