Cocky Jones could get weighed down
Posted: Tue February 3, 1998 at 6:42 PM ET
Roy Jones is a hot dog. Always has been. It's a big part of what's made
him the best fighter in the world, pound for pound. Now, it may also
be what gets him, well, eaten for lunch.
Jones, apparently bored, has given up his position as WBC light
heavyweight champ. Offended by the lack of respect (not to mention
big-money bouts) that august title has brought him, he has signed
to fight former heavyweight -- make that former real heavyweight -- champion
Buster Douglas on May 2 in Atlantic City.
The cocky Jones, who once played in a USBL basketball game in the afternoon
and successfully defended his title the same night, figures his
astounding speed and boxing skill will be enough to befuddle the aging
Douglas, who weighed 235 pounds in his most recent bout.
And, let's face
it, Douglas was not so long before that fielding offers from the Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade.
But, however gifted and focused, Jones may be in for an even heavier
challenge than he expects. Douglas, when he's not doing his Michelin
Man impression, is, as they said in "Rocky," a very dangerous poison.
Big and fast with a lethal left jab, he is -- or can be -- a far cry from the
plodding patsy Jones needs to look good.
The history of boxing is littered with the prostrate forms of ambitious
light heavyweight champions who tried to play with the big boys: Billy Conn,
Archie Moore, Bob Foster: all great fighters and all counted out when
they tried to move up. Only Michael Spinks succeeded, eking out a
decision over Larry Holmes in 1985.
Of course Spinks later ran into a guy named Mike Tyson, who nailed him
to the canvas in 91 seconds. And then Tyson ran into ... oh, yeah,
Buster Douglas. Good luck, Roy.
How's that jump shot?
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