BOXING: Will the Real Roy Jones please stand up?

By Phien L. Round

Mr. Jones, it is widely recognized that you are the best pound for pound fighter on the planet. However with that distinction comes a responsibility to the fans and the sport that helped build that legacy.

You have recently called off negotiations with Bernard Hopkins for a rematch due to irreconcilable differences regarding purse. By squabbling over such issues you are sending a message that says that the sport of boxing is secondary and that the money involved is paramount. This, not only flies in the face of logic, it simply goes against the spirit of the sport.

Maybe I'm a little ignorant when it comes to such matters but I'm not so ignorant to know that the best should fight the best. And all parties involved should do their utmost to make sure that that happens for the benefit of the sport. Be honest with yourself for a second. Who have you fought lately? Joe nobody from Somewheresville Indiana or Bill Neverheardofhim from Chumpsecola Florida.

In many instants you refer to boxing as being a business.

Mr. Jones, I understand better than anybody that boxing is a business. Hell… when I plunk down my 49.99 you don’t think I’m conducting a business transaction. I am paying for your services, for your entertainment, for your skill. Just imagine if the rest of the sport conducted itself the way you do. The sport would extinguish itself inside of two years. Leave all that stuff to the lawyers and promoters to deal with. Your primary obligation is to the fans and the sport. The money Mr. Jones is secondary.

In a recent response to Bernard Hopkins you said:

“Had I been in your position, I would have offered to fight Roy Jones Jr. for nearly free, just to prove my point. “

Well, Mr. Jones I issue you the same challenge. Of course I am a reasonable man. I obviously don’t expect you to fight for free but, here's a suggestion.

Agree to fight under the following conditions: As champion of the world You should get the lions share of the purse lets say $1,000,000. As challenger Bernard Hopkins should take 75% of that ($750,000)

The rest is up for grabs. Winner take all. If you are as sure as you say your are, then you should have no problem in defeating Hopkins and all the more money to you. At the same time you get to shut me up.

Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

Or perhaps you should take a page from Fernando Vargas:

"I don't care about money,”…. "I'll do it for a trophy…..”. ”I just want to get him in the ring again.”

This coming from a fighter hours after getting pummeled inside 12 rounds. Herein lies the difference. And shame on you, Mr. Jones for acting as if the sport owes you something.

Let’s put all that aside for a second. In the interest of political correctness, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. And maybe you do in fact want to fight the best out there. Come to think of it there may in fact be a method to your madness. Let me know if I'm getting warm: You come up with some master plan to move up in weight; fighting chumps all along the way. You hide for cover in the sports weakest division all under the guise of one day fighting as a heavyweight. The public (as dumb as we are…wink wink) is patient with you as you need ample time to be grow and be groomed into a heavyweight. All the while preserving your body (kinda Lennox Lewis like) while everyone else is beating each other up through out the ranks. Then, just when the public’s patience is wearing thin you unveil a new plan to come back down and wait for an eventual showdown with the likes of Felix Trinidad. And since it’s been so long since you've had any stiff competition you just have to perform well this one time and Bam!!!!! like a left hook you are back on top as the sport's best.

It's almost as if you are trying to hold the sport hostage. Its just too bad someone else didn't inherit your skill. You know Mr. Jones, someone should fine or suspend your for conduct non becoming of a world champion.

Your champion of the world. For the sake of boxing, conduct yourself like one. Mr. Jones by behaving in such a manner you are diluting your legacy.

And so….. once again I ask,………… will the real Roy Jones please stand up.

Better yet stand up and fight.

- Joe Public-

Article courtesy of Boxinginsider.com