Let’s see, Roy Jones Jr. is hanging on way past his prime, presumably to make money like most other boxers do. He got his head handed to him by Joe Calzaghe last November but still came back for two more fights since, winning both. Oscar De La Hoya recently wrote that he felt Jones Jr. continues to fight because of ego, not money; he says Roy wants to prove he’s still a top fighter. De La Hoya said Roy should retire because he’s done. Roy obviously didn’t take to that opinion very well and has now spoken:
“Yeah, well, I ain’t quit like he did, did I? I don’t even think he’s got enough respect to talk to me. I never gave up. He gave up to a smaller man. I don’t owe no explanation for that. I don’t even think he earned the right tot talk to me. I ain’t never quite. Got cut and still went on against what they called pound-for-pound one of the best fighters out there and never thought about quitting. I feel like I owe that to the fans. I feel like if they paid to see me fight, they should get a whole fight whether I’m getting my behind whooped or I’m whooping behind, they deserve a whole fight. I ain’t never quit in the ring so don’t tell me what I need to do.”
No doubt Jones Jr. is oozing with confidence from his win over Jeff Lacy two weeks ago. He was bragging about his handspeed from that fight during the interview and suggested he wants to fight Anderson Silva from MMA. The interview also confirmed De La Hoya’s feelings — that Roy still feels he’s a top fighter. But Jones Jr. is definitely correct about Oscar quitting. Both guys are right and it would have been nice if we didn’t have to experience either process as fans.
