August 20, 1999
Man To Man:
By Francis Walker
FW: Again, congratulations upon becoming boxing's first Undisputed World Light-Heavyweight Champion in 14 years. As I've said three years ago.... World Championship unification is something that has eluded you. You could not leave the game without having that distinction. 175 pounds is a long way from 160.
Roy Jones: "It's all about opportunity you know? Sometimes when certain promoters have certain fighters you just can't make things happen. I'm just blessed to have caught all those fighters that had those other belts. With a good promoter in Cedric Kushner, Cedric enabled me to have the opportunity to fight these guys. You know if I get the opportunity to fight, you know I'm gonna do my thing."
FW: Regardless to what fans and writers said of your dedication to boxing through the years, I believe your victory against Reggie Johnson on June 5, solidified Roy Jones' place as an all-time, great.
Jones: "Right!"
FW: In Germany right now, there are two trash-talking light-heavyweights in Dariusz Michalczewski and Graciano Rocchigiani looking to pick a fight with you. What's that all about?
Jones: "They say they want a shot, but they are not really making an effort like they want it. Dariusz says this and says that. I told him: ' y'all give me $12 million and I'll go over there and beat Dariusz in Germany. I'll do it whenever they want it. however they want it; whenever they get ready. It does not take much to get Roy Jones to fight me."
FW: Not trying to be funny, but do you think you can beat both Michalczewski and Rocchigiani on the same night with one drink of water between bouts?
Jones: "More than likely I should be able to. With no problem. Michalczewaski would be harder. I would have to be in good shape. Rocchigiani just covers up. I can hit both of them at will. Michalczewski, I can hit him at will. No fighter alive can allow me to hit them at will and expect to do well. Rocchigiani, he just likes to cover-up and look for one shot hoping I punch myself out. That's not gonna happen."
FW: Another thing I would like to address is the situation with the sanctioning bodies. The WBC gave you between August and October to fight their interim champ in Rocchigiani. If not, you'd have to surrender the WBC title and $600,000?
Jones: "Not $600,000, but I would have to give up the title. I'm not gonna let anyone order me around. The fight against Rocky should be bad, because all Rocky does is cover-up! He really doesn't fight. You go over to Germany and they're going to rob. I'll be looking to do it, but over here in the United States."
FW: Another thing.... The WBA mandatory is interim champion, Richard Hall? I don't even know who he is.
Jones: "Right, how did he become interim champ? I know nothing about it. Like I told you before, I am very tired of the organizations and the sanctioning bodies. I'm not going to put up with it much longer. Either they let me do how I do it, or I'm just going to surrender the belts."
FW: The IBF has Antonio Tarver as their No. 1 man? Firstly, with him being a Don King fighter, I thought he was on the shelf. Second, who has a beat to earn a number one ranking?
Jones: "I don't know, I have no clue! How did the guy that just beat Frankie Liles get to be number one or a top-15 fighter?
FW: Is the sport crumbling?
Jones: "I know the sport is crumbling. I know the sport is crumbling, but it will comeback. Hopefully, the people like Senator McCain will step in, kicking in doors to try and find answers to why this stuff is going on. Somebody cares, somebody is trying to get something done about it. I hope it happens very soon."
FW: Is Don King the main culprit?
Jones: "It's not just one person, it's a group of people."
FW: It seemed as thought the sport was making a tremendous comeback, until the World Boxing Council ruled Ricky Frazier, a 40-year-old, New York City Police officer as their mandatory at 175.
Jones: "Lays down, doesn't fight!"
FW: That was nicest Roy Jones I saw since you won the WBC crown in November 1996 when you defeated Mike McCallum. Thanks always, and congratulations once again!
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wenn man zwischen den zeilen liest ,und RJ trash talk etwas kennt ,dann weiß man ,daß er sowohl Rocky als auch DM sehr sehr lange beobachtet hat ,beide sehr gut kannte...und einen ziemlichen Respekt vor diesen sehr zähen und 12 runden lang nach forne maschierenden Boxern aus good old germany hatte.
Vorallem die tatsache ,daß rocky ausgerechnet Michael Nunn geschlagen hatte (den viele gg RJ sehen wollten) ,hat RJ mit sicherheit zu denken gegeben...
