Jones Defies Weight of History

What must irritate boxing's critics most of all is that, once in a while, the much maligned business throws up a sporting performance of artistry, power and grace, such as that witnessed by those lucky enough to see Roy Jones create history as he outpointed John Ruiz at the Thomas & Mack Center. Jones was quite magnificent.

The 34-year-old world light-heavyweight No1 made nonsense of the champion's huge size and weight advantage and delivered what could only be described as a masterclass as he claimed Ruiz's World Boxing Association heavyweight title. One veteran observer described Jones as "reminiscent of Muhammad Ali in his prime" and praise does not come much higher.

Despite winning the opening round, Ruiz was comprehensively outboxed thereafter and never seemed likely to make use of the superior power and strength which many neutral observers had assumed might win him the fight.

Jones said: "When he cracked me, I thought OK, is that all you got? I hit him and he thought, wow. You didn't see me run, you saw me box. It's what I do for a living.

"This means, pound for pound, I'm the baddest mother. Everybody said I couldn't take a punch. I took the fight out of him, and I had him real quick."

The key to Jones's dominance was his rapier-sharp jab which created the opening for all manner of eye-catching attacks, although Ruiz complained later that the referee Jay Nady had ruined his chances by denying him the opportunity to rough up his opponent at close quarters.

Lennox Lewis, commentating at ringside, was full of praise for Jones, saying: "He was terrific. It was a great, masterful performance and was all about the sweet science of boxing. Ruiz has never got back into the fight because it seemed he wasn't prepared to take any chances."

But the World Boxing Council champion said he did not believe Jones would be prepared to challenge him, and he went on to throw doubt over whether he would continue to box if his projected June rematch with Mike Tyson did not materialise.

He said the decision rested with Tyson. "It really depends on him. I'm forcing no man to face me. I need to be excited by a challenge to continue, and at this point I'm not excited about anyone."

When asked about possible retirement, the Briton confirmed it was a possibility, saying: "It is definitely an option. I can sit as emperor of boxing, as Don King calls me, and relax." But he played down the possibility of signing a contract with King and added: "At this point I don't need to sign. I'm standing at the top and I don't need to get locked into a contract. I've gone my long career not locked into anyone, especially Don King."

Jones will savour the moment before deciding whether to continue operating as a heavyweight, although the brilliance of his victory is certain to mean he will not be short of offers. A title-unification match against the International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd is one obvious possibility.

"It would take a lot of money for me to even talk about fighting anybody else. I don't even know if I want to fight no more," he said. "I don't feel I [am] really a heavyweight; I just did it to make history. I did this for the sport of boxing and for the fans who love Roy Jones Jr.. I mean, 100 years; come on, it was time for someone to do that."

Jones's win makes him the first one-time world middleweight champion to become world heavyweight champion since Britain's Bob Fitzsimmons in 1897, and he emulates Michael Spinks, who beat Larry Holmes in 1985 as a light-heavyweight champion who moved successfully to the higher level.

His win provides the talking point and the injection of new blood the stagnating heavyweight division badly needed, and Jones's achievement and performance prove his name deserves to be ranked alongside the best. Hitherto he has been accused of ducking the sternest challenges, but this win demands he be ranked alongside the great names of the past, with a talent which surely would have flourished in any era.

Other champions who stepped up

Bob Fitzsimmons

Known as Ruby Red because of his wispy red hair, Fitzsimmons had been world middleweight champion and stepped up to challenge the heavyweight champion 'Gentleman' Jim Corbett of the United States in 1897 when he was 37 years old. Although living in New Zealand, Fitzsimmons was a Cornishman by birth, so was claimed as a British champion after winning the contest with his trademark solar-plexus punch. He was the last British fighter to hold the title before Lennox Lewis took over the WBC title after Riddick Bowe threw the belt into a waste bin in 1992.

Michael Spinks

An outstanding light-heavyweight champion but was given little chance of beating Larry Holmes when he challenged for the IBF heavyweight title in 1985. Holmes had fought and won 48 times as a pro and was only one win short of Rocky Marciano's tally of 49 fights undefeated. Tactlessly, Holmes told the press Marciano was "not fit to carry my jockstrap". His remark caused outrage and in the fight Spinks won a contentious points decision to take the title.