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Roy Jones Jr. denies retirement report, but why would he keep fighting?

Once upon a time, Roy Jones Jr. was known as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. He demonstrated otherworldly athleticism that led him to capturing world titles in four weight classes (middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight) and many wondered if he would end up on the list as one of the greatest boxers who ever lived.

But that was a long, long time ago.

After starting his career with a 49-1 record from 1989 to 2003 – his only loss coming by disqualification against Montell Griffin in 1997 – Jones’ stock has plummeted considerably as he has gone 13-8 from 2003 to the present day. But it isn’t his record that draws concern, it is how he has lost that is most troubling.

Of his eight losses, he has been brutally knocked out five times and the worst of those knockout losses came against Enzo Maccarinelli in December. For a 47-year-old with a career as an HBO analyst who is a shell of his former self and clearly cannot compete at an elite level anymore, retirement should have definitely been on the table.

How much longer will Roy Jones Jr. fight? (AFP)
How much longer will Roy Jones Jr. fight? (AFP)

But the calls for him to retire have once again fallen on deaf ears. Jones has refuted the reports coming out of Russia – where he has become a citizen – that suggested that he was giving serious consideration to calling it a career.

"No official retirement yet,” Jones posted on his Twitter account. “Maybe coming, but hasn't came yet. That will be MY announcement to make."

John Wirt, CEO of Jones’ Square Ring Promotions, echoed the former champion’s sentiments and said that there is a possibility for a return.

“Roy has not yet made an official decision about retiring, but in the past, he has always mentioned that he wants to do his last fight in Pensacola,” Wirt said to ESPN.com.

But why keep fighting?

Jones has given everything that he has to this sport and at this point the only thing left for Jones to give away is his health. It is not as if Jones is fighting on major cards, nor has he proven that he can hang with decent fighters. He looked beyond shopworn against Maccarinelli as he fought with his back against the ropes for four rounds before being knocked unconscious.

Maybe he doesn’t care about tarnishing his legacy. After all, it is his career. However, his well-being is of great concern. We have seen what happens to boxers who have taken one too many punches in the head. For now, Jones’ faculties appear to be intact. But one punch can change a man’s life, and he takes plenty of them. It’s astounding that Jones hasn’t suffered from any visible long-term effects considering the way he has lost over the past 12 years.

Retired boxer and former champion Carl Froch recently suggested that boxing should have an age limit to protect fighters from themselves.

“Boxing is not like any other sport; you have to weigh up the risk and reward,” Froch said in an interview with The Daily Mail. “Things like playing football, tennis, you might be three sets to love down, but boxing you're going to the hospital on a stretcher and you know potentially you are going to get an injury you can't walk away from.”

Froch retired last July at the age of 38. He won his last fight against George Groves with an 8th round TKO and said that he had nothing left to prove. After considering a comeback, he realized that his body and mind just weren’t able to get him to where he needed to be in order to be competitive against top-tier competition for 12 rounds.

"I boxed till my late 30s, so 47, that's impossible really to be at your best and if you aren't at your best you shouldn't be boxing," Froch said.

"I don't know whether they can bring different rules in on the licensing to stop people from coming back into the sport that have been retired a long time or past a certain age. There is an age limit of 35 on amateur boxing. They should consider putting an age limit on professional boxing."

Unfortunately, that may be the only way to keep Jones out of a boxing ring.