Heart of a Lion: Jones, Calzaghe, and “The Deep Cut”

First off, my most sincere apologies to Roy Jones Jr., I am amongst those in the boxing community who believed him finished, and he proved that he still had one good fight in him.  Good for you, Roy Jones. Watching a hero go out on his shield never gets old.

There will undoubtedly be numerous articles about the first round knockdown that hurt Joe.  After all, the perceptive abilities needed to discern that the Champion was in trouble are akin to those necessary to discern that Barry Bonds was on steroids.  However, I’d like to look at two other aspects of the fight before everyone else jumps in on it. 

First of all, that evil cut Jones suffered in the seventh round.  To me, at least, Jones’s ability to fight on for four more rounds, half blind, and with a dangerous cut that made him look like Marciano, was tremendous.  He knew that he was losing and he even seemed confused at points late in the fight, but the heart he alluded to in Calzaghe-Jones 24/7 was more than evident, and we all owe him large kudos for that.

After “The Deep Cut,”  I was on my feet for the rest of the fight. Calzaghe, the dutiful fighter he is, targeted the cut without forgetting to mix in some body shots.  Joe’s power, or lack there of however, was such that Jones was able to survive the bout on his feet.  The unanimous, coherent cards of 118-109 were an expected anticlimax to a thrilling contest.

I’d also like to take this time to thank Joe and Roy for putting on yet another great match and keeping boxing on the comeback trail.  I now have another fight to present to people when they ask why they should watch boxing. 

Hopkins-Pavlik, Marquez-Casamayor, Pacquiao-Marquez II, Katsids-Casamayor, Margarito-Cotto, now Calzaghe-Jones, and of course the miniature version of the “Thrilla in Manilla,” Vazquez-Marquez III. 

That’s seven wonderful fights this year with consistent action in between. Those who are educated only in Kimbo Slice’s (what kind of a name is that by the way?) 20-second knockouts of stiffs should check these fights out. 

Hopefully, boxing will finish 2008 strong as it’s biggest stars and a few up and comers have some promising cards scheduled. Calzaghe will undoubtedly become “Fighter of the Year” and Jones has put himself in the hall-of-fame (yeah like he wasn’t already.  By the by, can we induct Roy Jones twice?).  

It was a great fight.  It was a perfect mix of expectation and surprise, and I for one feel my $50 did not go to waste.