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Saturday's "March Badness" event was a success at the box office with 6,500 in attendance at the Pensacola Civic Center. No one can blame Roy Jones Jr. if he wants to keep making a living in the ring and use his appearances as a tool to build his company Square Ring Promotions. If Jones lines up a few more tomato cans like Omar Sheika, who pose little threat to his aging reflexes, fine. But you know that won't be the case. The 40-year-old Jones is now calling out top level fighters who are in their prime:

"I would like to fight super middleweight, but if I told you I was going to do that (for sure) I'd be lying to you," Jones told the Pensacola News Journal. "Because if someone called me and told me they want to fight me for the heavyweight title tomorrow, I would be on my way back to 199 (pounds)."

Jones is targeting Jermain Taylor. There's also the possibility of 44-year-old Bernard Hopkins. Hopkins, who at worst is at the back-end of his prime, would be wasting his time against Jones. The fight couldn't do more than 200,000 pay-per-view buys and a victory now over an aged Jones is hollow. BHop needs to continue with his "Defeating Father Time" storyline against younger fighters in their prime.

The beating that Jones took at the hands of Joe Calzaghe last November is clearly a distant memory. He's also not worried about becoming another Evander Holyfield or Tommy Hearns, two of the many great boxers who fought way past their prime:

"Don't you understand?" Jones said. "I don't know how to go out of boxing yet. I haven't learned that yet."

What top five fighter from 168 to heavyweight could Jones face that would interest boxing fans? More importantly, who would he stand a chance against?

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  1. SouthCal21
    1. Posted by SouthCal21 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:34 pm EDT

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    Id watch it....only to get some closure on a very skilled and entertaining fighter (at the peak of his career) after he got knocked out but some of the younger big names....but id still be rooting for him to win regardless of how the odds would be stacked against him....the Sheika fight was a joke....Id say stack him against Pavlik...Roy is not on Bhops level anymore but hes still better than that last chump Kelly pounded....so why not?
  2. Travis
    2. Posted by Travis Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    Certainly Evander and Thomas Hearns fought past their prime years but neither was or has been beaten up by far lesser fighters . Many people feel Holyfield won his last fight from an unbeaten giant who does hold some kind of a Championship belt . Hearns actually won his final two fights after being K.O.d by Merqui Sosa who wasn't entirely a pushover in the Sheika category.
    Hearns pretty well knew what he was doing and Evander is one tough sucker in a pitifully weak division. Nobody bullies Mr. Holyfield !
    Jones on the other hand is not a tough guy . He relied on speed and skill. Tarver, Glendon Johnson and Calzaghe all humiliated Roy Jones . I don't think Bernard Hopkins quite won his fight with Calzaghe but Bernard underestimated the guy to such a degree that I personally do not believe he prepared himself properly-- mentally or physically for the fight .
    I doubt that Bernard will fight again as he has actually improved his status since losing two close fights to Jermaine Taylor. The victory over Pavlik is a great way to go out .
    Jones is simply washed up as is Oscar de La Hoya. Losing in a close fight is one thing. Being beaten up is an entirely different category . A better comparison would be Muhammad Ali
  3. Brian
    3. Posted by Brian Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    I dont have a problem with Roy fighting, as long as it's against guys like Shieka who have no power to hurt him. What I do have a problem with is putting his shows on PPV. I will be very surprised if this show did more than 100k buys and if it did, it would have to be because of the MMA portion of the show. I can't see that many boxing fans wanting to pay to see Jones fight a guy like this. At this point in his career, he isn't even enough for a young up and comer to make a name for themselves. There is nothing to gain from a fight with Roy Jones Jr unless you are at the tail end of a career like Calzaghe or B-Hop and looking to get a paid. A guy like Chad Dawson doesn't gain anything by fighting Jones, he wins he beats an old man, by a fluke he loses, it will hurt his future chances of bigger pay day fights. Why would you want to risk it.
  4. Patrick J
    4. Posted by Patrick J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    roy hang them up you were the best and time comes when you must let it go .please my one of the greast fighters,you have nothing to prove.know one coould have beating you in your prime believe that.
  5. Eddie C
    5. Posted by Eddie C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:51 pm EDT

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    The only racisim is you refering to showboating as ghetto crap! I doubt you've ever step foot in any ghetto,and if so,did you see anyone with boxing gloves on acting like Roy Jones Jr?Didn't think so IDIOT!!!!!
  6. Ed M
    6. Posted by Ed M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    This guy ducked every big name fighter during his career. He is a travesty now, Roy "Joke", Jr!!!
  7. Jared G
    7. Posted by Jared G Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm EDT

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    I would pay to see Roy and Bernard fight its about time it happens! I think everyone would agree!
  8. Travis
    8. Posted by Travis Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    @Ed M---Just who in hell are the big name fighters that Roy Jones ducked ? Other than one German dude who wouldn't leave his country to fight Jones I just don't remember anybody worthwhile that he might have avoided . Kinda think you just might be " full o shet" which sometimes causes resentment and hatred !!!
  9. E.L
    9. Posted by E.L Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:00 pm EDT

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    Roy Jones has never ducked anybody. He was a great and entertaining fighter, but he's way past his prime. It will be difficult for him to get good fights. What about Jones vs. Pavlik?
  10. Mike R
    10. Posted by Mike R Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    You are an absolute idiot to say that Calzahge has no legacy. undefeated in 46 pro fights. Destroyed hopkins and jones even though they are past their prime. he would have destroyed them in their prime. he would kill pavlik, taylor, and the rest who are in their prime.He is arguably the best super middle weight of all time.
  11. DJH
    11. Posted by DJH Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:36 pm EDT

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    I have followed Roy since his Olympic gold medal robbing. Personally I feel Roy should lean more to retirement because a fight against any of the current boxers in or around his wieght class would give him no further recongnition as a serious fighter. Benard Hopkins right now would beat him in 10. He is the only guy that could make Roy look serious if Roy were to beat him. Kelly Pavlik would be to small as Jermaine Taylor. He might want to fight Evander at 205. Just a thought, its best to leave while you can or it could be another fighter fighting past his time or worse, Mahammad Ali. I hope he makes the wise decision.
  12. dlove
    12. Posted by dlove Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    hopkins and calzahge should rematch bernard was cheated by the judges and joe knows it thats wny he wont rematch him. and jones jr. should fight holyfield like he always wanted. I think palvik would get jones. See i got this theory how jones is like a randy moss he s got speed over everyone but when they lose that its a done deal and bernard is like jerry rice gots skills so it dont matter if he ages he was never the fastest to begin with. So jones should fight light heavyweight or heavyweight cause he needs to be faster than his guy to win.
  13. anonymous
    13. Posted by anonymous Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    Roy jones was a great fighter, but im sorry pavlik, B-hop, calzaghe, and any other decent light heavyweight/ super mid weight would beat him his hand speed and reflexes are almost gone. I understand sheika as a tuneup and him wanting another belt but If he is gonna fight again please leave the tomato cans alone and take a real fight or retire
  14. Astig
    14. Posted by Astig Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:14 pm EDT

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    CALZAHGE is good but in prime RJJ or B-HOP he would be slaughtered ...... the resume that calzaghe have is that he fight a past prime B-HOP & RJJ .. the only legit fight for me thtat CALZAHGE fought is against kessler (which he almost loss) .. and the 1 that post that RJJ duck a fighter in his prime can post the name of the fighter that RJJ ducked... my own 2 cents never i knew that RJJ stay away from a fight
  15. Quantis g
    15. Posted by Quantis g Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    This how I feel about Roy Jones Jr.I'm reading where some guy made a comment stating that he has been ducking the good fighters!!He has made the good money doing what he can do the best,and that box..He has made many fighters look like an ass in the ring,and I don't think that he has been ducking any fighters at all.I just think that has been smart,about the fight game...Yes I would love to see Roy,and Bernard box.It would be a good fight,and fans has been looking foward to seeing that fihgt for years...RIGHT???????????? The time will come just wait,and chill..Quantis Graves 2008 Olympic runner up Heavy weight
  16. Quantis g
    16. Posted by Quantis g Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:24 pm EDT

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    One thing about boxing..It's like a drug,and its very hard to stop..If you are NOT a fighter you will NEVER understand
  17. Ren
    17. Posted by Ren Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:03 pm EDT

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    I would love to see Roy fight Benard or Taylor, bu before he does he should fight Glenn Johnson again he is also past his prime but he's a tuff fighter still. Glenn knocked him out cold so it be a good mental fight for him not just about his physical status. Why not Paul Williams they say nobody wants to fight him.
  18. DIEGO B
    18. Posted by DIEGO B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    Joe Calzahge was a good fighter but he never beat any of the best in their prime.He beat an old Jones and his win over Hopkins was barely a win.The fight was decided more on Hopkins lack of action than Calzaghe doing anything but throwing punches in bunches to make the crowd excited.And please dont tell me that nobody wanted to fight him in their prime because if he would have come over to the U.S. in his younger years and leave his confort zone in Wales he would have gotten the attention and the fights he wanted.Guys like Lennox Lewis,Ricky Hatton and even Prince Hamed came here and fought the best in their prime and proved their great quality.
  19. Tee
    19. Posted by Tee Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT

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    uhhh mikeR...did you really say "destroyed hopkins " ??? which fight did you see ? apparently not the one i watched in person at the thomas & mack. that fight was EXTREMELY close and could have gone either way depending on the judges. personally i had bhop winning but either way he sure as hell didn't get destroyed. i wish calzaghe would give him a rematch...the only problem is that calzaghe just isn't much of a draw in the US...even so i'm pretty sure bhop would fight him in wales...bhop is a living legend...calzaghe will sadly be forgotten.
  20. tlholloway_1970
    20. Posted by tlholloway_1970 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

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    Calzaghe had the chance years ago to come over here and fight all the best in their prime but he chose not to because he didn't "like to fly"He was guttless then and is guttless now.he is still younger then most and still won't fight.
  21. darktrunk media
    21. Posted by darktrunk media Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:41 pm EDT

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    retirement bites every man's pride, fighter or not. fighting on isn't the problem, but fighting back a notch is, and until jones can learn to back away from the stage, which most likely he won't, then he will ultimately embarrass himself. he wouldn't be alone in doing that, since retirement by and large is a use by date with little recompense..i'd say keep fighting roy, but just get the stage right.....over matched fighters is a nice way for a guy to practice what he loves, but do undercard, or conduct a tour of the 2nd tier cities...why not even "go on the road"....
  22. K NEL
    22. Posted by K NEL Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

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    What can I say about Calzaghe..besides the fact he's only fought about 4 credible fighters and 2 past their primes. He beat and destroyed Jeff Lacy's career, barely beat Kessler in a real close fight, the judges gave him the Hopkins fight, and had that been a prime Roy Jones he wouldn't have made it out the first round of that fight.
    I wouldn't want to see Roy against Taylor though. Taylor would not doubt beat Roy. He just needs to hang it up as he has nothing else to prove and I just don't see him winning another major title.
  23. Leonard N
    23. Posted by Leonard N Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

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    Roy would do better to move up into the heavier divisions. He is still a very dangerous fighter but not quite fast enough to compete with the lighter faster fighters. This last fight might have been a given, but all in all he is still good enough to be competative. The trick is to find the weight division that can best match his diminishing speed.
  24. Claude Kinard K
    24. Posted by Claude Kinard K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    I think the fight with Antonio Tarver change RJJ, he got lazy due to he had so much talent and when he got that carless loss he actually came to his senses, but I think he never came over it , I think he does need at least one rep fighjt and if he looses yes in deed retire, boxing is like a drug but if keep taking it you could loose your senses

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