Our latest episode of “Telling It Like It Is” focuses on the great Roy Jones Jr. Where does he stand legacy-wise? Can he beat Joe Calzaghe? Can he rise from the ashes and still find redemption? Philip H. Anselmo and Scoop Malinowski discuss…

Scoop Malinowski: No doubt, Roy Jones at his best is one of the greatest most spectacularly sensational champions in ring history. His speed and skills were so astonishingly extraordinary he even made a grand master like James Toney look hopeless. He was just in another world, on a different level. Though he did become a little bit of a handpicker later on, and may have lost some desire and motivation during the the time period of the Tarver and Johnson setbacks, I actually believe he is re-energized and newly motivated and inspired again to prove something in a BIG way. Roy wants very much to go out with a bang, and erase those images of the Tarver and Johnson losses. Jones is extremely pumped up to finish out the home stretch of his fantastic career in style and in triumph. And you may be on to something Philip, Joe Calzaghe just may feel the wrath of a rejuvenated Roy Jones come November. How do you imagine Roy will upset Joe style and strategy wise?

Philip H. Anselmo: The style Roy fights, Calzaghe cannot be effective against. The Roy J. of today IS re-galvanized,
There are many problems Joe will have to overcome: Foot work. Roy’s balance & speed of foot will spoil any offensive rush Calzaghe chooses, by constantly turning Joe & countering with hard left hooks, upstairs & down. Joe will be vulnerable to Roy’s straight right hand, a la the first round of the Hopkins fight, but Roy’s will come out faster. That’s another point: hand speed. Calzaghe is used to being the quicker handed fighter, but in this fight he’s not. Roy’s hands are faster, and I believe he carries the bigger punch. His experience with southpaws is vast.
Calzaghe, I believe made an error career-wise. Instead of fighting the strong, but one dimensional Kelly Pavlik, who already called Joe out, for the middleweight title and becoming a three weight division legend, by owning the middle, super-middle & light-heavy titles simultaniously, he’ll have the glory ripped from his heart by having his much wanted undefeated record snapped in half like a twig in his last fight, instead of going into the history books, the way he envisioned. And all the glory will go to a redeemed, deserving Roy Jones Jr.- who’s place in boxing
history is cemented, but will come to a closure with a very significant “W” on his already world-class resume.

Scoop Malinowski: Roy’s extreme confidence to take on Calzaghe has been surprising, it’s as if he just can’t wait to get the chance for redemption and savor those glory days again, as if he already knows beyond any doubt that he can handle Joe. I would not count out Joe coming up with another reason for nixing this fight again, with some kind of hand injury. Roy is a man possessed to finish his illustrious career on a high note. And I don’t think he will be denied.

But the inevitable showdown at the mountain top seems to be a rematch against … Bernard Hopkins. This fight still fascinates boxing purists, not the blood and guts legions. Vernon Forrest is one purist who told me in an interview we did last month that he very eagerly wants to see them do it again. The Viper thinks BHops and Roy are still the two best technical boxers in the sport today. Hopkins made it known he wants Roy again, he said so this week at the Pavlik press conference. Hopkins could be very tricky for the 2008 version of Super Roy. How do you see that one going?

And all in all, whatever happens with Roy from here on out, how much do you think his KO losses should be factored into his legacy? Should they eliminate him from sharing the same echelon with the likes of Ali, Robinson, Duran, Leonard? Or does Roy belong with the all-time greats? I say he does. He should be judged at his best. Not his worst nights. At his best Roy Jones was a superhuman ring machine, spectacular and almost untouchable. I mean, throwing a KO punch from behind his back, in a world title fight. Come on, Leonard or Ali wouldn’t even think of trying that!

Philip H. Anselmo: If the proposed date of the Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr fight falls through, I’ll be in serious disbelief. They WILL fight, and no matter the location, the role reversal stands: Roy spoils Joe’s boxing. Perhaps easily. Roy knows no matter where they fight, the fight will be broadcast worldwide, and to give Roy the big stage back at this point of his career will motivate his already re-ignited skill level to their peak. As far as the losses on his ledger, not only should there be an asterisk next to those loses - Roy coming down to light heavy after winning the heavyweight title - and take Evander Holyfield, for instance, how many times was he written off after suffering major loses - he was KO’d by Riddick Bowe & James Toney as well - before shocking the world by winning a fight he was supposed to lose? Just like Evander, Roy has taken the time off he’s needed and has been winning ever since. After Bernard Hopkins beats middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik, and Roy Jones is successful in defeating light heavyweight champ Joe Calzaghe, you can bet your ugly ass both Bernard and Roy will clash. In their first fight, a young, tentative Roy beat a mature, tentative Bernard by a boring 12-round decision. I know for a fact that Bernard learned a lot from Roy in that fight, even emulating Roy’s style in his fights there after. If they fought today? I see Roy winning by decision, but more decisively. Now for the x-factor. Antonio Tarver is a world title belt holder, and you can bet he’ll be howling Roy’s name louder than a DOWN concert. To see a rejuvinated Roy Jones fight HIS fight vs. big mouth Tarver could prove both lucrative and even MORE redeeming for Roy. Believe it. If Roy comes off of consecutive wins over Calzaghe & Hopkins respectively, he’ll be ready to kick Antonio’s ass once and for all.

Check out Philip H. Anselmo’s “Mythical Welterweight Showdowns” feature in the September issue of Boxing Digest magazine available on newstands now.