Roy
Jones, Jr. Unanimous Decisions Felix Trinidad
January 20, 2008
by Hal Clarke
Bout of January 19, 2008.
Using the successful earmuff/jab/pot shot blueprint
employed by Winky Wright when he white washed Felix Trinidad in
2005, Roy Jones, Jr. won a unanimous decision last night over
Trinidad at Madison Square Garden. Raising his guard whenever
the slow-fisted Trinidad jabbed and hooked, Jones repelled the
Trinidad mid-section onslaught catching most of the fiesty Puerto
Rican's punches on his elbows and gloves. Meanwhile, Jones found
his form midway through the contest, dropping Tito in the seventh
and tenth with an overhand right and left jab, respectively. Imposing
his will on the former champion by backing him up and countering
at will, the second half of the fight was all Jones and a testament
to a former champion who still has great hand speed and may have
finally found an adequate defense to compensate for his diminished
reflexes.
Jones, a former heavyweight title holder, was finely
conditioned for the fight. After tiring in his last half dozen
fights after coming down in weight from his lone heavyweight fight,
Jones paced himself well over last night's twelve rounds turning
up the heat down the stretch. When he lets his hands go, Jones
was in total command. His hand speed continues to be phenomenal
even at 39 years of age, and coupled with his ear muff style defense,
top notch conditioning, and ability to pace himself, Jones proved
more thana handful for Trinidad and surely would be for any of
the best 168 and 175 boxers in the world. Certainly not the same
Roy of the '90s, perhaps the greatest boxer ever, Roy Version
2.0 is a different fighter but definitely one who when
motivated, conditioned, and willing to pace himself as well let
his hand go can present a challenge to any champion at almost
any weight class. Trinidad fought a good fight, himself, but between
his mechanical style, smaller build, and looping punches proved
again last night that he is no match for the first tier 160-175
lbers.
The win moves Jones to 52-4 (38 KOs) while Trinidad
drops to 42-3 (35 KOs). Trinidad will surely retire with the defeat,
albeit for the third time; however, I suspect this one will be
for good. Jones, meanwhile has his eyes set on 168 lb god Joe
Calzaghe of Whales. If that fight should come off it will
be sensational, there's no way it couldn't. With punching machine
Calzaghe unloading his maelstrom attack, and Jones looking to
rope-a-dope and counter, no matter the outcome the contrasting
styles couldn't possibly be anything less than a perfectly entertaining.
All in all last night's event proved a fun and exciting
bout from two of the sport's all-time greats. The two pugilists
may be less than their former bests, but they showed unquestionably
that they still have something left in the basement and let it
hang out in yesterday's contest. Rocky Balboa would be proud.
Here is the official scoring
of the fight:
117-109, 116-110, 116-110
(all for Jones)
My Scoring of the Fight:
| Round |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
Total |
| Jones |
10 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
118 |
| Trinidad |
10 |
10 |
10 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
109 |
Quote of the night by Manny
Steward:
"All he has to do is
throw the punches." (referring to the strategy Jones should
employ to ensure easy victory). This sounds common sense but Jones'
reluctancy to throw is his ultimate undoing.
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Want to tell Hal Clarke he doesn't know anything
about anything? Or maybe you agree. Email him at halclarke@undependentmedia.com
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