Clash of the Veterans

Story & Photos by Francisco Guzman
 

Clash of the Titans was more like Clash of the Veterans. What was witnessed on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City was more like to two veteran  fighters who had there heyday. Roy Jones Jr (42-3, 35 KOs) who once fought as a heavyweight (200 lb) and went on to win the heavyweight title from John Ruiz was now fighting at 170lbs against five time world champ Felix “Tito” Trinidad who. Whose last fight was at 160lbs against Ronald Winky Wright. In which he lost by unanimous decision.
 
At the start of the first round the Puerto Rican superstar came on strong hitting Roy with hard body shots while Jones lay on the ropes. Roy fought the next couple of rounds by covering up and allowing Tito to bang away at him. The fight was more competitive than was thought to be. Until the middle rounds when Roy started to let his hands go showing some of the hands speed that made him pound for pound the best in the world. In the seventh Jones scored a knock down causing a delayed reaction after hitting Tito with a short right hand.
 
 
 RJ tried to end matters but couldn’t finish him as Tito held on as much as he could. Roy was increasing getting stronger as the fight went on backing up Tito as he kept walk him down. He made a mockery of Tito every time he was hit with some of significance causing the referee Arthur Mercante Jr to him warn him for his showboating.
 
 
By this time Roy was fighting like some thought he would showing his superior hand speed and strength. He scored another knockdown in the tenth round hitting Tito with a stiff jab followed by a right that landed on the top of his head as he fell backwards. Trinidad fought courageously as Roy kept pop shotting him with rights and lefts hands to the body and head. RJ seemed to be toying with Tito by the end of the fight seemingly happy with the way things were going, leaving it up to the judges. Winning by unanimous decision with scores of 116-110, 117-109, 116-110.
 
 
Roy said during the weeks leading up to the fight that if he didn’t get Tito out of there by the 7th, 8th round that something was wrong. That he would retire. It doesn’t seem so as he spoke of fighting Joe Calzage. Later on Roy claimed that he had torn his left bicep three weeks prior to the fight for the reason he couldn’t get Tito out of there.
 
 
Like I read a couple of days ago in boxing there is no fountain of youth. Last Saturday nights fight showed just that. Two fighter who were a shell of who they were in there prime. Like on of Roy’s rap song “Ya Must’ve Forgot”.