Roy Jones

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Floyd Mayweather has staked his reputation as boxing's best fighter, pound-for-pound. Roy Jones used to hold the mythical title, but a loss earlier this month would seem to leave the crown to Mayweather. Mayweather (32-0, 21 knockouts) has made his case in the ring, most recently here on Saturday night, outclassing former junior welterweight champion DeMarcus Corley with a unanimous decision in a 12-round, non-title bout. Mayweather, a champion at 130 and 135 pounds, moved up to the 140-pound class for the fight.

Some people purchase waterfront property with the intent of tearing down any structures as soon as possible. It's usually the land they are after. In 1991, Roy and Mary Jones purchased property in eastern Baltimore County on Middle River, one of the busiest tributaries on the Chesapeake Bay. They paid $235,000, and their intentions were a little different. They lived in the house instead of tearing it down. But after 20 years raising a family in the home, the couple decided it was time to start over.

It does not take long for promoter Bob Arum to start spewing superlatives when he is hyping his latest boxing wunderkind.In this case, Arum is giving the hard sell to Roy Jones, a flamboyant, young middleweight who battles Percy Harris of Baltimore for the World Boxing Council Intercontinental title at the Taj Mahal tomorrow."

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Some people purchase waterfront property with the intent of tearing down any structures as soon as possible. It's usually the land they are after. In 1991, Roy and Mary Jones purchased property in eastern Baltimore County on Middle River, one of the busiest tributaries on the Chesapeake Bay. They paid $235,000, and their intentions were a little different. They lived in the house instead of tearing it down. But after 20 years raising a family in the home, the couple decided it was time to start over.

Percy Harris may have been cheated of the opportunity this month to become the first American to fight in China, but the Baltimore middleweight has a chance to become the first fighter to defeat title contender Roy Jones, of Pensacola, Fla., on HBO, Dec. 5.Harris had been scheduled to fight World Boxing Organization champion Gerald McClellan in Bejing on Oct. 16, but financial disagreements between the American promoter and the Chinese delegation forced a...

Even on the worst night of his professional career, Roy Jones defeated tough left-hander Antonio Tarver. In doing so, Jones said he earned more respect from fans than he did in dominating most of his previous 49 opponents. "I conquered myself and my opponent all at one time. As a matter of fact, I got more credit for that fight than any other fight I have had to date," said Jones, who claimed rapid weight loss had weakened him. "I had a lot of guys tell me, `I always thought you were a great champion,' but that they had always seen me when things were going my way," Jones said during a recent conference call.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Roy Jones Jr. routinely refers to himself in the third person.This annoys Vinny Pazienza, who will be challenging him for the International Boxing Federation's super middleweight championship next weekend in Atlantic City, N.J.Naturally, Jones is as unconcerned about Pazienza's feelings on this as he is about the way he comes across to most of his listeners."

Andre Ward, America's first Olympic boxing gold medalist since 1996 and its third since 1992, has reached a "multi-fight, multi-year" agreement to be co-promoted by Dan Goossen and former world champion Roy Jones, Goosen said yesterday. Ward, 20, will make his professional debut on Dec. 18, ironically on the undercard of a main event between Jones conquerors Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The fight is the first of what manager James Prince, who signed Ward four days after his come-from-behind victory over a Belarus boxer in Athens, Greece, has planned during an ambitious schedule of eight bouts per year.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Too strong. Too fast. Too slick.In a nutshell, International Boxing Federation middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins of Philadelphia proved he was in a higher league than Simon Brown in recording a knockout after one minute of the sixth round at the Taj Mahal last night.If nothing else, Hopkins, who swept the first five rounds, strengthened his claim as the best man in his division.After hurting his Maryland rival in the fourth and fifth rounds with solid combinations, Hopkins jumped on Brown as soon as the sixth round began.

Roy Jones Jr. was up on the podium, unshaven, unhappy and unaware about what lay ahead. He looked like a Survivor castoff, not one of the most dominant boxers to ever lace up a pair of gloves. The next day, he lost to Antonio Tarver for a second time. After the bout, he read from boxing's worn-out cue card. "I'm a true champion," he said. "Being the champion I am, I may come back." Of course he'll come back. And that's too bad. This week, we mourn the passing of the legacy. They just don't seem to be as interested in preserving legacies like they used to. There was a time when superstars walked off into the sunset.

Roy Jones Jr. was nearly untouchable in his first 50 professional fights, 38 of which ended with his rivals on their backsides, victims of his speed, quickness and reflexes. Those skills helped him outclass other outstanding fighters such as former world champions Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Vinny Pazienza, Mike McCallum, Montell Griffin, Virgil Hill and heavyweight John Ruiz. The only loss in his first 50 bouts was by disqualification to Griffin. "In the 1990s, Roy was one of the greatest fighters ever, even though he was never a traditional fighter, in the sense of being sound technically," said boxing historian Thomas Hauser, referring to Jones' absence of a basic jab, among other things.

LAS VEGAS - As he has throughout most of his career, undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins has drawn on street and prison experiences for motivation heading into his 21st title defense tomorrow against Jermain Taylor at the MGM Grand Hotel. "I've been through situations that can make or break you," said Hopkins, who was twice nearly killed in the streets of Philadelphia in his youth. "That's something Jermain Taylor can't relate to." Taylor begged to differ. During a news conference Wednesday, he talked of his own harsh days growing up in Little Rock, Ark., where he and three young sisters were abandoned by their father, Lee, when Taylor was 5. While their mother, Carlois, worked full time as a nurse's assistant, Taylor was changing diapers, doing laundry, washing dishes, setting the table for dinner.

Andre Ward, America's first Olympic boxing gold medalist since 1996 and its third since 1992, has reached a "multi-fight, multi-year" agreement to be co-promoted by Dan Goossen and former world champion Roy Jones, Goosen said yesterday. Ward, 20, will make his professional debut on Dec. 18, ironically on the undercard of a main event between Jones conquerors Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The fight is the first of what manager James Prince, who signed Ward four days after his come-from-behind victory over a Belarus boxer in Athens, Greece, has planned during an ambitious schedule of eight bouts per year.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Floyd Mayweather has staked his reputation as boxing's best fighter, pound-for-pound. Roy Jones used to hold the mythical title, but a loss earlier this month would seem to leave the crown to Mayweather. Mayweather (32-0, 21 knockouts) has made his case in the ring, most recently here on Saturday night, outclassing former junior welterweight champion DeMarcus Corley with a unanimous decision in a 12-round, non-title bout. Mayweather, a champion at 130 and 135 pounds, moved up to the 140-pound class for the fight.

Even on the worst night of his professional career, Roy Jones defeated tough left-hander Antonio Tarver. In doing so, Jones said he earned more respect from fans than he did in dominating most of his previous 49 opponents. "I conquered myself and my opponent all at one time. As a matter of fact, I got more credit for that fight than any other fight I have had to date," said Jones, who claimed rapid weight loss had weakened him. "I had a lot of guys tell me, `I always thought you were a great champion,' but that they had always seen me when things were going my way," Jones said during a recent conference call.

Roy Jones Jr. was nearly untouchable in his first 50 professional fights, 38 of which ended with his rivals on their backsides, victims of his speed, quickness and reflexes. Those skills helped him outclass other outstanding fighters such as former world champions Bernard Hopkins, James Toney, Vinny Pazienza, Mike McCallum, Montell Griffin, Virgil Hill and heavyweight John Ruiz. The only loss in his first 50 bouts was by disqualification to Griffin. "In the 1990s, Roy was one of the greatest fighters ever, even though he was never a traditional fighter, in the sense of being sound technically," said boxing historian Thomas Hauser, referring to Jones' absence of a basic jab, among other things.

WASHINGTON -- Ask Philadelphia middleweight Bernard Hopkins a question about his past, and he gives you his life story -- a sordid history of crime, drugs and four years in a state penitentiary for armed robbery."

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - On Friday, John Ruiz's trainer, Norman Stone, handed someone an invitation to a party. "Are you going to this?" asked Stone, referring to a post-fight get-together slated for Ruiz's opponent, Baltimore's Hasim Rahman, after the latter's anticipated win in their World Boxing Association interim championship bout. "I'm going to a party," Stone assured. "But it won't be this one." Stone was indeed the one celebrating last night after Ruiz gutted out a 12-round unanimous decision over the former heavyweight champion before 12,346 at the sold-out Boardwalk Hall.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The winner of tonight's heavyweight title fight between Hasim Rahman and John Ruiz will have a future in boxing; the loser, said Ruiz's trainer, Norman Stone, "might as well get a job at McDonald's." "I like Rock. He's tremendously strong, got a tremendous right hand. But Johnny Ruiz can box, or do whatever he has to in the ring," Stone said at Thursday's weigh-in, predicting the 246-pound Rahman wouldn't last five rounds with the 241-pound Ruiz. The former world champions will meet at the Boardwalk Hall for the World Boxing Association's interim heavyweight title.