Roy Jones Jr.: Redemption or Retirement! (7/12/07)
By: Scott Foster, Photo by: Scott Foster

“ Roy has that swagger back. I see it, and when we talk boxing outside of the gym, I hear it in his voice.” Derrick “Smoke” Gainer

For the better part of a decade, there was no need for debate. In terms of skill, reflexes & overall technique, Roy Jones Jr. [50-4 w/38ko] reserved hollowed ground in the sport as the universally regarded “pound-for-pound” kingpin. This mythical “pound-for-pound” ranking was borne from perhaps the most legendary boxer of our times, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, and much like the hero from his youth, Jones now finds himself in a similar position, albeit a half century removed.

As was the case then, doubts fill the boxing consensus, with questions of age & desire growing from lingering whispers to outright proclamations. Boxing scribes and fans alike all seem united behind one certainty: the skills which once separated Jones from the elite have eroded to the extent that it’s no longer a matter of winning, but rather a question of competitiveness. “Washed-up,” as the toe-tag goes.

Had Robinson heeded his own detractors, soundly urging retirement after his brutal loss to Maxim, there would have been no questioning his rightful place atop the annuls of the sport. But in doing so, history would have erased many of the memorable moments we now associate with Robinson -- victories over Fulmer & Basillo in his 40’s – career defining wins that continue to resonate today.

In many respects, the fact that Robinson’s [173-19-6 w/108ko] skills had diminished, sapped by both age and attrition, illuminated arguably two of “Sugar” Ray’s greatest assets -- his heart & pride -- neither of which had any bearing on physical health or well being.

Eager to write his own swan song, Roy Jones Jr. appears poised for a final push towards a world championship as prepares to battle undefeated Anthony “The Tyger” Hanshaw [21-0-1 w/14ko] Saturday night at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum. This bout serves as a homecoming of sorts for Jones as he brings the first large scale boxing event to an arena located within mere yards of the Katrina ravaged Mississippi coastline.

Jones recently moved his camp from Pensacola to the IP Casino Resort & Spa in Biloxi, where he granted FightNews an interview and access to a recent sparring session. First up first for Jones was “AK” Laleye [6-1 w/3ko], a rugged South African transplant who trained in the past with the likes of Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright & Jeff Lacy. “AK” played his role as the bully, marching forward behind looping, powerful hooks as Jones used his legs & mobility to fend off the aggressive rushes.

“ Roy is very focused,” AK acknowledged afterwards, “I think he is having fun now with it. He’s back to his old self. Everybody doubts him, saying he’s done and not the fighter he used to be. So now he has something to prove.”

AK was in camp for Jones’ last bout against Prince “Badi” Ajamu, a fight in which Jones uncharacteristically focused his attack primarily on the body, landing debilitating hooks from the first to last bell. Days after the bout, Ajamu would suffer massive kidney complications, spitting up blood before his ankle swelled to the size of a grapefruit. Within 48 hours, Ajamu’s right kidney would shut down completely and he was subsequently hospitalized for what amounted to an extended stay. Luckily, Ajamu was released shortly thereafter and has since made a full recovery.

“ Roy has always been a good body puncher,” AK confided, “going all the way back to Virgil Hill – now he is just reflecting on what he has always done well. Roy is the total package when you talk about physical strength at 175lbs. He has the speed, the power. He is the perfect size -- not too tall, not too short. And he’s got that punch. It’s all mental with him, and he is way sharper than the Badi Ajamu camp. He is better shape, and he is doing everything faster, quicker, harder. So he is in better spirits.

With guys like me and Alfredo -- we come at you & pressure you -- so Roy’s being pushed every day.”

Laleye was referring to Alfredo Angulo [7-0 w/5ko], the 2004 Mexican Olympian at 165lbs who has recently been splitting the duties in Square Ring. Angulo began his session by applying even more pressure with slightly quicker hands, eliciting sharp exchanges in the center of the ring before rolling hooks to Jones’ body as the ex-champion worked along the ropes. A well-placed body shot from Angulo drew the most obvious response from Jones, a slashing left hook stopping the young Olympian dead in his tracks.

Jones ended his workout with some bag work and shadow boxing, appearing more relaxed and comfortable than in previous camps. For a fighter who thrives off competition, this bout has stirred something inside Jones that those close to him confess they haven’t seen since the rubber match with Antonio Tarver.

“ I’m much happier camp this time,” Jones admitted, sighing. “I’ve been at it for a long time, nearly 3 months now. I’m happy, I feel good…I’m comfortable. There’s no reason to be stressed out. I’m not concentrating on the other side this time; just concentrating on myself. I’ve got my skills up to par with 2 sparring partners who make me work hard every day. They keep the pressure on me, as you see. I just feel really good, man. I thank God for blessing me and giving me the opportunity to come back & work again.”

Jones’ comfort level is due in part to a reunion with fellow Square Ring alums Ezra Sellers [27-7 w/24ko] & Derrick “Smoke” Gainer [40-7-1 w/24ko], two ex-champions who have rejoined Jones in camp as they prep for their bouts on the undercard. Taking a cue from Jones, Gainer has not taken the easy road after a proposed bout with Zahir Raheem [28-2 w/16ko] fell out, choosing to face heavy-handed Carlos Navarro [27-5-1 w/22ko] as a late replacement. The bout with Navarro will mark the 17th anniversary of Gainer’s pro debut, and takes on added significance as both he & Jones look to exit the sport with a fitting epilogue cemented by one last championship.

“ It’s just like going back to school,” Gainer joked, “this is my 1st camp with Roy since 2001. I support him when he is sparring; he supports me when I’m sparring. It was touching to be back in camp with my friend of 20 years.”

Perhaps no one in the sport has been tied to Jones on so many different levels, and this bond has served both throughout their careers. If Gainer’s insight into the mind of Jones is a good indicator, the boxing public who have effectively shunned Jones might be drawn back into the fold after a dominating performance over Hanshaw, particularly in light of the rumblings filtering out of Puerto Rico.

“ We’ve been friends since 1984,” Gainer recalled, “and now we’re back, fighting together again. It brought back a lot of memories and I know it did him some good; neither one of us has an easy task. This was a step he needed to take -- he could have easily taken someone else. That says a lot about him. Roy has that swagger back. I see it, and when we talk boxing outside of the gym, I hear it in his voice.”

Those not immersed in the sport might view the Hanshaw bout as simply a tune up for Jones as he nears the end of his storied career. Those close to Hanshaw, however, see this bout for what it is: a competitive dogfight between an aging champion and a younger, undefeated challenger.
Hanshaw has shown himself to be a solid technical fighter, with skills honed by a lifetime spent in
USA Boxing. His Olympic bid would end tragically in 2000, dropping a points loss to Jermain Taylor [27-1 w/17ko] less than two weeks removed from untimely passing of his father. The loss in the finals, however, did not overshadow quality wins against current contenders Sechew Powell [21-1 w/12ko], Sergio Mora [19-0 w/4ko] and Kelly Pavlik [31-0 w/28ko], effectively establishing Hanshaw as a top prospect at 168lbs.

“ [His amateur career] plays a big role because he has been in these big fights before,” Jones explained, “just on the amateur level. There’s really no difference, in terms of pressure. For him, he’s got everything to win & nothing to lose. So he’s gonna be in class, taking notes and studying before he goes into each round. That’s going to make him energetic; it’s up to me to muster my energy to steal that from him.”

Hanshaw, a natural southpaw, fights primarily behind the left hand, and is equally efficient with the jab or the hook off of it. His style resembles Jones in many ways, and although he is not as fleet-footed as Roy, he works well behind a solid defense, patiently biding his time.

“ I expect a lot of style and technique from Hanshaw,” Jones predicted, “he has wonderful foot & upperbody movement. [Hanshaw] was born into boxing; he was raised as a boxer. It’s very difficult to hit him clean because he has a superior defense. He has great combinations and he knows how to counterpunch. He has a beautiful left undershot; he’s very dangerous. People think this is a cakewalk; it’s no cakewalk by a long shot.”

The age old axiom states that you never, “hook with a hooker,” and while Hanshaw has all of the tools necessary to defeat many elite fighters, the fear is that his tendency to rely so heavily on the left hand will offer Jones a platform to unleash his most potent weapon: the counter left hook.
“ He may be able to land the left hook a couple of times,” Jones promised, “but it won’t help him none, because mine is more powerful than his. The thing I gotta watch for is the left undershot; he likes to make you look for the hook then he throws the undershot. He’s real slick with it. If he exposes himself [with the left uppercut] it’s going to be bad for him; I have quick hands. His offence on the left side is superior, but I think he will work the right hand some, thinking I’m looking for the left hook.”

The sentiment leading into the bout points towards a dominant performance from both fighters, with all of the pieces seemingly falling into place. Hanshaw’s demeanor reveals a properly prepared challenger focused on the task at hand: seizing the scalp of one of the sports most recognizable athletes. But much like Robinson, Jones appears primed to elevate his game in one last push towards a championship, and it will be up to Hanshaw to play the role of brick wall as opposed to the proverbial speed bump.

The intangible, it seems, might end up being the venue, located effectively in Jones’ backyard. Intimately associated with inner-city strife and loss, the scars of Katrina remain fresh for Jones, and the correlation of his career with that natural disaster stands as fitting inspiration for the ex-champion to draw from.

“ People have to understand, my career has been built around things like Katrina,” Jones explained. “The way God does me is just like what happened over here. He does something real bad to me, but then he brings me WAY back. So the things that God gives that are bad, they turn out to be like rainbows. The rainbow would not have been so beautiful had he not fought it from so far down, you hear me? The gulf coast is in the same situation I’m in, it’s about to come back more beautiful than before -- more popular than ever -- and I think I’m going to come back and do the same. I just love God and thank him for blessing.