Live Report: Calzaghe-Jones Workouts

November 4th, 2008

By Scoop Malinowski

Super Joe Calzaghe arrives about 15 minutes late for his 11-12 noon media workout but looks “great” says LeRoy Neiman who makes a rare appearance at the gym. The artist has his sketchbook and will draw both combatants. Joe does indeed look superb with a short hair cut and 5 o’clock shadow beard. Kingsway Gym is abuzz and the media and various fans who have snuck there way in, crowd Joe as if he were a Beatle in 1964.

Unbeaten Joe Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KO’s) exudes an excitement and joy himself to be here in New York in such a situation – about to fight in Madison Square Garden against one of the all-time superstars of the ring Roy Jones Jr. Calzaghe talks to the media, then warms up, tapes his hands and then shakes loose in the ring which is crowded on all four sides with observers and photographers. Joe hits the mitts with his father Enzo for two rounds wearing huge yellow gloves. But Joe’s handspeed is still phenomenal, as his sharpness and form. Most striking is the passion and intensity Joe exudes in each and every punch. He is slipping and sliding, as if he’s actually in the fight already. His eyes are two fires. No music plays, everyone is engrossed and awed by the athletic marvel in our midst, and the sounds he is making.

If those sounds were to be translated they would say: I can’t wait, I just can’t wait to rip Roy to shreds on Saturday night, Come on Roy, come at me with your right, here’s what you gonna get. Bam-Bam-Bam-Bam-BAM! Ooooh, that felt good, let me do it again. Joy was in a state of elation, performing what he does best, performing as an unbeatable boxing champion.

He smiled and joked with many people standing on the apron. He preened into video cameras, making sure his hair was right. He threw combinations while turning his head towards photographers. Joe wouldn’t want to be anywhere else on earth this week than in New York to take care of business with Roy Jones Jr.

Then Joe took off the gloves and shadowboxed for two more rounds. His dad Enzo sat in a stool in the corner and watched every move, approvingly motioning his head in slight jerks as if he was in perfect rhythm with his son who was doing everything 100% exactly and perfectly right. Team Calzaghe is ready, they could not be more ready for this Battle of the Superpowers.

They stayed late, taking photos for everyone, Roy Jones was kept waiting. One of the directors in charge tried to hurry Joe to leave for Roy who was driving around blocks in circles, waiting for Joe to leave. Finally Team Calzaghe departed, still taking more photos for fans on 28th Street before hopping into their black limo.

Not three minutes later, Jones walked into the gym, looking fantastic himself, dressed in all black baggy shorts, spandex underneath, Jordan boxing shoes, and black long sleeve top under a black vest. One of the writers from England commented later that Roy looks to have “shrunk”, and that, at 39, he looks “like an old man.”

Roy does not have the same energy or enthusiasm that Joe does. After he speaks with the media, he climbs up into the ring and before he starts his routine, Superman Roy Jones yawns. An omen of things to come? Or is he just tired of these menaingless protocols?

Roy has his i-Pod on, and as he loosens up and enters his own world – he is extremely focused and does not make eye contact or communicate in any way with onlookers – he starts to express emotions. Roy smiles that sinister smile, SO you think I’m show eh, Joe? You think you gonna beat the great Roy Jones do you? Oh boy have I got a surprise for you Joe. Yeah, that left hook was sharp baby, Oh I love that. Oh yeah that right feels good. “All day Roy,” chimes in one dude who looks kinda like Chad Dawson.

All the while Roy has another younger, smaller boxer in the ring with him at the same time, shadowboxing too. Where ever Roy maneuvers to in the ring, the subordinate knows that he has to stay out of the way and out of distance.

But Roy’s movements and moves seem more limited than Joe’s. Joe flowed and his legs and arms worked in unison to throw many various punch combinations. Roy seems slightly stiffer, his legs less sharp. And his punch creativity more limited. But what Roy does he does exceedingly well. Double left hooks and piercing blinding right hands and those pinpoint counters were enough to subdue the likes of Hopkins, Ruiz, Toney, Trinidad.

This fight is going to be a special event between two of the modern greats. I was very excited for this fight in the first place, but after watching both work out in the gym today and how serious and intense each was in his own way, my interest in this clash doubled! And I heard from an overseas reporter that the British fans are going to be coming over in big numbers, as they did for the Hatton-Mayweather fight. And that always makes a big fight even more special.

Will Joe be inspired by this the final remaining task of his illustrious career – to fight and beat a legend in the most famous boxing arena on the planet? Is Joe about to put on the finest performance of his career? It certainly looked like this is possible by how amped up Joe was today.

Has Roy bitten off more than he can chew in his quest for total redemption after the KO losses to Tarver and Johnson? Has Roy underestimated Joe and overestimated his own remaining skills in his almost desperate hunger to regain his status as the king of boxing? How much more complicated will Joe be than was the badly faded Trinidad this past January and will Roy be able to handle those problems?

Stay tuned as the Wednesday press conference is sure to be even more telling than was today.