Roy Jones Jr. vs. Paul Vasquez: Date, Predictions and Preview
At 46 years old, Roy Jones Jr. (60-8, 43 KO) is still one of the hardest-working men in boxing. On Saturday, March 28, he's set to have his second fight in 22 days when he faces Paul Vasquez (10-6-1, 3 KO) in the legend's hometown of Pensacola, Florida.
There's no viewing information available at this time, but the details on that front came together at the 11th hour for Jones' fight with Willie Williams earlier in the month.
We do know the bout will be held at the Pensacola Bay Center, and Jones Jr. is planning for it to be a tune-up for what he hopes will be a shot at WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck later in the year.
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Motivation
The question that seems to come up every time Jones takes the ring again is, "Why is he still fighting?" He's already a first-ballot Hall of Famer who was voted fighter of the decade for the 1990s. There's really nothing left for Jones to prove.
In an interview with Bloody Elbow's Josh Samman, Jones said:
"What keeps me motivated are things like that. We have talent that other guys dream of having. When you have a gift, you have to use it to the fullest. I don't wanna get to heaven and have God say "You could have won a world title at 46, why didn't you try?" Then I'm gonna feel bad. He's gonna say "Why did I give you that gift if you ain't gonna use it?" I gotta use it til I can't use it no more. When I close up shop, it'll be because I know I'm done and I can't do it no more. Until then I'm wide open.
"
Jones also loves the spotlight. He's an entertainer through and through. It's why he has dipped his hand in so many different genres of entertainment. Whether it be as a rapper, fight promoter, actor or any other venture, Jones likes to be front and center where he can please a crowd.
Boxing still gives him the biggest platform to satiate those desires.
The Payday
"Island Fights 33 Roy Jones Jr will return to the ring this weekend against Paul Vasquez who will be fighting for … pic.twitter.com/LM3iwCpTUg
— jb (@jbcday) March 26, 2015"
To put it bluntly, Vasquez is going to Pensacola to get paid. That's not to say he won't give his best effort, but in the end, all he'll have to show for that is his share of the purse.
The 36-year-old has lost his last two fights via first-round KO, and he has little to no punching power. The chances that he beats Jones are about as slim as his 17.65 KO percentage.
The purse for the fight hasn't been publicized, but it would be a shock if it doesn't trump what Vasquez has been paid in any of his previous bouts. Essentially, Vasquez is just a body to keep Jones fresh and in front of the boxing community while he awaits a potential showdown with Huck.
Notable Stats
68 Fights, 69 Rounds
Obviously, there's a large disparity between the two fighters' experience, but the fact that Jones will be competing in his 69th professional fight and Vasquez has fought a total of 69 rounds really drives the point home.
When you consider Vasquez is not spring chicken at 36 years old, we gain further perspective on Jones' opponent's skill level.
11-Year Gap
Here's another interesting stat along the same concept as the previous one: Jones won his first world title 11 years before Vasquez turned pro. In 1993, Jones defeated Bernard Hopkins by unanimous decision at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C to win the vacant IBF world middleweight title.
Vasquez wouldn't turn pro until 2004, when he scored a TKO victory over a guy named Armando Alvarez, who had a record of 1-5-1.
4-Year Gap
Jones is on a six-fight win streak, but it's been four years since he faced a current or former world champion. His last such bout didn't end well. Current WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev stopped him in the 10th round in 2011.
Prediction
Jones will wipe the floor with Vasquez as he did Williams in his last fight. Who knows how long he'll continue to fight, but count on Jones to extend his winning streak with a TKO victory.
All stats per BoxRec.com
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