Roy Jones Jr. Vs. Felix Trinidad: Last Chance At Glory?
Published: Friday - January 18, 2008
Words by Ronnie Gamble
L to R: Felix 'Tito' Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr. (Photo: HBO)
With the first big fight of the New Year going down this Saturday (January 19) at New York's Madison Square Garden, boxing experts expect the Roy Jones Jr. and Felix Trinidad fight to prove which fighter is still relevant in today's boxing world.
The fight is set to be the two boxing legends last chance to make their mark as their prime has long passed them by -- both of whom have lost their last notable fights in upsetting fashions.
35-year-old Trinidad hasn't fought in 32 months -- not since he was embarrassed by Winky Wright. And 39-year-old Jones is trying to redeem himself since losing to Antonio Traver twice -- once being knocked out and the other a lose in a decision -- as well as another upsetting knock out by IBF light heavyweight title holder Glen Johnson, although he's fought twice as of late against lesser opponents.
Saturday's fight was supposed to happen in the past, but due to the crushing loss Trinidad suffered to Bernard Hopkins in 2001, the bout never taking place.
Now, as the end of both of their careers come to a close, a win on Saturday could result in the winner extending their careers for a few more fights, despite analysts calling the fighters "washed up" and "way past their primes."
"Jones and I were supposed to fight during the peaks of our careers," Trinidad said recently to ESPN. "I believed back then that I could beat him and the same holds true today.
"I respect Jones and the great career that he has had. I know he thinks he can beat me, but that's not going to happen. This will be one of the biggest victories of my career. Even though I've been out of boxing for two years, I still feel great. Anyone who knows me knows that I always stay in great shape regardless if I have a fight on the horizon or not," he continued.
Despite Trinidad's optimism, Jones is promising a four round KO of the former three-division champion champ, who will be fighting 10 pounds heavier than he ever has in his career to face Jones.
"I'm going to take Tito down in four. He must go in fo'," Jones said.
After a win, what would each fighter look for afterward? Jones offered a few options. One, he said he'd like to head to the U.K. to possibly right super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe; Two, a rematch with Johnson; three, a fourth fight with Tarver; or four, a fight with young titleholder Chad Dawson.
While Trinidad also mentioned Calzaghe as a possible opponent, he says if he beats Jones, he'd like another chance to face Hopkins and Wright to redeem his losses to them.
"Those fights have always been in the back of my mind," he said. "But we won't decide on who it would be until after I win this fight."
Roy Jones Jr. versus Felix "Tito" Trinidad will be a fight everyone wants to know the outcome to. They will square off on Saturday (January 19) at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT at New York's Madison Square Garden.
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