Roy Jones, Jr. Vs. Joe Calzaghe: Only Seven Years Too Late!

There is a general saying in most circles that tends to have a universal meaning and effect whenever it is used. One that, when uttered, reminds you to be grateful for what you have and happy that you received it when you did. That phrase is "Better late than never."

Generally after hearing this, one tends to feel as though one should be happy that one has whatever has just so happened to land in one's lap. Whether or not you needed it today or two years ago, the fact of the matter is that you should always be grateful for whatever gifts you receive, no matter how far off they may be.

Case in point, Roy Jones, Jr. vs. Joe Calzaghe.

On paper this should be a match for the ages. Two Hall of Fame bound gladiators who are finally getting into the ring to settle the score, as to whom is superior in this violent, yet, beautiful sport we call boxing.

Heck, one of them is even saying that this will be his last match and he plans to go out with a bang. Both are also coming off of wins against two former champions. If that does not make for an exciting event, nothing will. Never mind that this match could have taken place seven years ago. Never mind that both of these men have seen better days.

What we have now is what we have and we should just be grateful for it now, right? Better late than never, correct? Don't be so sure.

Let's not become obsessed with the fact that this match could have been made years ago when both men where in their prime. That point could be nailed into the wall with a sledgehammer. We need not pay attention to the fact that other more relevant and lucrative fights could have been made by both men.

According to them, that is not what is relevant here and now. What is relevant to the both of them is that they wish to fight each other. These two yearn for this match so badly in fact, that they both dropped their own respective promoters in order to make this match happen when their promoters questioned the logic of taking a meaningless fight this late in their careers.

Funny thing is that, to the trained eye, this fight makes complete sense if you know the track record of these fighters.

No one is surprised that Calzaghe finally decided to fight an aged, faded version of Jones. Calzaghe got clocked by a seasoned Bernard Hopkins earlier this year. Even though he regrouped to earn the victory over B-Hop, the win was due more to what B-Hop did not do.

What else says alot for Calzaghe is that this fighter would not dare leave Europe to come to America where there were so many matches to be had. Instead, he remained in his safe haven until the match against "The Executioner."

This is not to say that the fighters he fought were not high-caliber, it is just a fact that to establish yourself as the real deal in boxing, you need to cross the pond and get in there on the big stage with the big boys!

Calzaghe did not do this until the risk was rated as extremely low.

However, he isn't nearly as diabolical in his schemes as Jones.

Jones needs to be go into boxing's Hall of Fame, not only for his accomplishments as a gifted pugilist, but also for being one, if not the best, manager to ever sign a contract.

Jones is a very intelligent man. For five years he had everyone convinced that he was the greatest fighter to ever lace up a pair of gloves.

All of that without fighting one single, decent fighter in his weight class.

After he beat Montell Griffin in their second fight, Jones did not fight one fighter of any substance for five years.

One still can question how he came to decide that John Ruiz was the only fighter available worthy of meeting in the ring when Chris Byrd, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, and other more mobile fighters were available for the match.

He put on this act for so long that when he finally got in the ring with a fighter of average talent, who just had more will to win in Antonio Tarver, he got spanked.

After a few very bad years that saw him get knocked out cold twice, then run away from the same man that KO'd him the first time for 12 rounds, Jones began to use that snake-like wit to scheme his way back into the limelight.

Case in point, the match between him and Felix Trinidad was a travesty. Trinidad was long past his best years and honestly had no business fighting at a catch weight of 170 lbs. when his best years were nearly eight years ago when he fought at 147. But, all the ignorant public hears is "Jones vs. Trinidad," so they embrace it.

After witnessing Jones do what he was supposed to do to a weak, soft, almost pudgy Trinidad, the public christened it with descriptions such as "the old Roy was back" and all that foolishness.

This fight was a calculated match that was put together by two intelligent men who don't like to take risks, but know how to earn a buck all the same. Many people aren't paying much attention to this match because they obviously know what to expect from this bout.

Jones will not engage Calzaghe, because ever since he got knocked out in consecutive matches, the thought of engaging in any true combat is unthought of. He will do what he can to land punches on the outside, cover up and lean on the ropes whenever Calzaghe gets in on the inside.

Jones won't be in much trouble on the ropes because Calzaghe is not a hard puncher or a sharp one. While Jones may not enjoy being on the ropes against Calzaghe, he won't have anything to worry about with getting hurt.

Calzaghe's slapping style of punching does not have the type of pop necessary to concern Jones. Jones knew this the day he signed the contract.

Calzaghe knew that Jones could not hurt him also because Jones' punches are generally thrown one at a time, although they are very fast punches. Calzaghe is banking on his business bothering Jones like flies bother construction workers.

What generally happens in fights like these is that the match is given to the busier fighter. Meanwhile, the other fighter will protest because he feels as though he landed the more effective shots. Usually, they are both wrong. Subsequently, we are doomed to another long night of bad, boring boxing. 

Why these men chose not to fight seven years ago is beyond me. Maybe it was the truth exposing itself then as to the character of these men.

Nevertheless, I have to pick a winner in this match that has "I don't care" written all over it. I don't have good feeling for Calzaghe in this one. In order to beat Jones, you have to hurt him and I just don't think Calzaghe has a chance in that instance.

Jones will be happy to dance around the outside, land a few, meaningful punches every thirty seconds. It won't be much, but it will be enough for him to win the fight.

Jones by unanimous decision.

Calzaghe will decide not to retire and get in the ring with Kelly Pavlik, only to lose again.

Jones and Bernard Hopkins will begin talking about another match only to fail again with pretty much the same results.