In light of Joe Calzaghe’s recent comments that American fighters are less than wonderful these days, and that European fighters are the best in the world, I thought it might be interesting to ask some of the bigger names in the sport today to offer their opinions on the Saturday night mega-fight between Calzaghe and Roy Jones, Jr.
Nate Campbell, unified lightweight champion: “I think Roy just has too much experience for Calzaghe. Everybody says that Roy has lost a bit of his snap, but I don’t think he’s slipped. He might not be as quick as he used to be, but Calzaghe won’t be able to take all that Roy has left. I’m not impressed with Calzaghe’s undefeated record. Go back and look at his fight against Byron Mitchell (2003). They stopped that fight way too early. No one even talks about that fight anymore. Mitchell knocked down Joe, and he got back up. But, as soon as Calzaghe knocked down Mitchell, they stopped the fight. He’s been protected. Roy will win a decision.”
James “Buddy” McGirt, trainer extraordinaire and former world champion: “It’s gonna be a great fight, but I’m going with Roy. I think Roy beats him. A decision, for sure. No stoppage. I don’t think Calzaghe’s ever stepped into the ring with someone with the speed of Roy Jones. I was kinda shocked, to be honest with you, that he’d make a comment like that (referring to Calzaghe’s recent comments that American fighters are a distant second to European fighters), because I would never expect to hear something like that from him. I’ve hung around him, I’ve hung around his father, and that just doesn’t sound like him.”
Edward Brophy, President of International Boxing Hall of Fame: “It’s going to be an interesting fight. I’m interested to see when that bell rings and watch the first round, as their styles come together. We’ll see who’s in tip-top shape, and I think that will pertain to the outcome of this fight. Roy’s probably got a bit more ring experience. I won’t pick a winner, but it will go the final bell, and there will be a definitive decision.”
Johnathon Banks, IBO cruiserweight champion: “Yeah, Joe’s been talking his mess. He’s going totally overboard, because America has a lot of really great fighters that work hard, so that’s all a bunch of B.S. What, we never even heard of him until Jeff Lacy. I can’t call Jeff lazy. You certainly can’t call Bernard Hopkins lazy. On this fight, I’m sticking with Roy. This fight is actually a toss-up, and it shouldn’t be. This SHOULD be a totally one-sided fight. When Roy fell off his “cliff”, to where he fell to now, he’s now on the same level as Joe Calzaghe. Roy was the Superman of our time. He even went to heavyweight and won a belt. Joe doesn’t have anything that Roy’s never seen. Roy’s actually looking to get into the ring with a slick boxer like Joe. Like I said, this fight is a toss-up, and that’s NOT a compliment to Calzaghe. I cannot let Roy go. . . I cannot give this fight to Joe. It’s hard to say whether it will be a stoppage or a decision. Going off their last performances, and their styles, I have to say that actually, I don’t really see this fight going the distance. The one thing people forget about Roy is that he can punch. Roy is a natural puncher, to the body or head. Never count Roy Jones out.”
Thomas Treiber, acclaimed ring announcer: “If I were a betting man, I would probably put my money on Calzaghe, and I’m smelling a decision here. I would think it’s going to be a competitive fight. Roy is one of the best fighters to ever put on the gloves, but I think his time might have passed.”
Chazz Witherspoon, heavyweight contender: “You can’t take Roy Jones lightly. Up until Roy lost, nobody would even fight Roy. It sounds funny that Calzaghe has all this funny stuff to say about Roy now, but where were these comments when both of them were in their prime? This is an older Roy, and Joe knows he can get away with comments like that now. If the old Roy shows up, it’s probably going to be “lights out” for Calzaghe. Joe, on the other hand, is a fast-handed fighter, who knows how to box. That will present a problem to anybody. Like I said, though, if the old Roy shows up, I think he’ll run straight through Calzaghe.”
BJ Flores, USBA cruiserweight champion: “I think Joe is just trying to generate a little bit more interest in the fight (with those disrespectful comments) . . . he’s just trying to stir the pot a little bit. It’s such a tough pick, as far as who will win. I think the logical knowledge is that we have to go with Joe Calzaghe, with the men that he’s beaten. Roy hasn’t beaten a real top guy in a number of years. It’s tough to say how Roy will handle a top guy, even though Joe did just make the jump up from 168. With all that said, Roy’s still the best counterpuncher in the game, and I think it depends early on with how he adapts to Joe’s speed. I pick Joe to win a unanimous decision. I want to say, though, that I hope Roy wins by letting his hands go tonight. If he does that, he can absolutely win. I gotta go with picking Joe Calzaghe, but I hope Roy Jones wins.”
Lamon Brewster, former heavyweight champion: “It’s going to be Roy Jones’ feet versus Joe Calzaghe’s hands. If Roy can get his feet in position, he can be way more effective and maybe even knock Calzaghe out, because if Calzaghe can’t position his feet properly to let those hands go, he’s not going to be effective. It is a chess match, you have to use your feet AND your hands. The compelling factor in this fight is that Roy Jones has the best feet in the world. If he gets his feet positioned correctly, he can throw that hook from lots of different angles. If he keeps this up over the course of the fight, Calzaghe will never be able to get set and let his hands go. It could be, but I doubt seriously that this will be a war. This is going to be one of the best “chess match” fights you’ll ever see. I would lean more towards Roy Jones, only because, for me, I love a guy who uses his feet the way Roy does. Calzaghe’s a great, proven champion, but he’s never fought a Roy Jones. . .with the foot speed, hand speed, and power of Roy. That will be the difference. I pick Roy to win a decision.”
Shannon Briggs, two-time heavyweight champion: (laughs) “That’s funny, actually. Speaking as the last American heavyweight champion, I think Joe is just caught up in the moment, giving a bit a lip service. He is a champion, a good one at that. I wouldn’t say great, but good. I’m hoping that Roy wins because I want to see him and Bernard fight again. I fought on the undercard of their first fight (Riddick Bowe vs. Jesse Ferguson) and we need electricity like we had that night. Those two belong in the ring together! As far as Roy and Joe is concerned, I’m terrible at picking fights! I’ll mention, though, that I just left the gym about an hour ago. A man walked up to me asking me who Roy was fighting tonight. He didn’t even know WHO Roy’s opponent was! I’d like to see Roy pull it off. I know Roy has trouble with southpaws sometimes, like Tarver. It’s exciting, and it helps to build the anticipation, which is always a good thing.
Bert Randolph Sugar, boxing writer and HOF member: (As usual, Bert used his unique style of humor to open up his comments). “What can be said about Joe Calzaghe that hasn’t already been said? His best fight was against Mikkel Kessler, who’s from Denmark, which has a rich history of famous boxers, including the likes of Hans Christian Anderson. . . . .anyway. . . I think you’ll see both a checkers match and a chess match. Roy Jones, Jr. moves, and so does Calzaghe. But Calzaghe is an EverReady bunny who just continues to throw punches, oftentimes over a thousand punches in a fight. It’s up to Roy Jones to engage him, and NOT rely upon his usual “one punch at a time” offense. He’s got to throw flurries. His hands are faster, but he doesn’t have the volume to outhustle Calzaghe who will outhustle him. Another thing he cannot afford to do, and we saw this against Glencoffe Johnson, is go to the ropes and put his arms up, with his gloves to his ears like earmuffs. He’s basically going to have to go to the ropes and fight him. If he does this, I give him a chance. If he doesn’t, Calzaghe will overwhelm him. It’s up to Roy Jones to make the fight. Calzaghe, on the other hand, says this is his last fight. He wants to retire at 46-0, and be in the upper stratosphere with Rocky Marciano, retiring on top with more than 40 wins and an undefeated record. (Overall, without giving a definitive answer, I assume that, in the context of this interview, that Bert believes that Calzaghe will prevail.)
So, going off the opinions given, the tally is 6 for Jones, 3 for Calzaghe, and one undecided. I guess we’ll just have to see with this one. It’s just so close, but personally, I think Roy is ready to really shine again. I’m picking Roy to win by stoppage late in the fight.
***Chris Guzman has hosted The Bolo Punch Boxing Hour since 2002.
