“Well, it’s time to retire…”
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
(They were once both great but now both Felix Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr. need to step away and enjoy life. They’ve earned it.)
If you know where that subject quote comes from, then you watch a little too much Batman, much like myself.
But I think that is the lasting image of boxing in 2008. Some fighters who hopefully will never see the inside of a ring again: Stevie Johnston, Chris Byrd, Roy Jones Jr., Felix Trinidad, Oscar de La Hoya and Evander Holyfield (goes without saying), among others.
Johnston, “Lil but Bad” is still little, but he’s no longer bad. My older brother loved Johnston in his prime. Sadly, he was never the same after two brutal wars with Jose Luis Castillo. Ironically, those fights put Castillo on the map.
Byrd got demolished on ESPN this year and just didn’t look like he had that fire anymore. He had a great career and his win over David Tua is still a fight I can’t believe I don’t have on DVD, but it’s time for the Byrdman to fly away. Of course, we’ll still see Chris at the fights because no boxer I know goes to more of them. He’s a fan.
When the day comes that you’re content to just not be knocked out, that’s it. So Jones Jr. has to go. He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer for sure, but Joe Calzaghe showed RJJ can no longer compete on the elite level. For a great fighter like Jones, do you really want to fight the journeymen and gate keepers in small arenas for next to nothing? Just call it a day and come back to announcing. Lennox Lewis is not cutting it for me.
Tito Trinidad. I haven’t understood one word he’s said in 10 years, but that hasn’t stopped me from loving his work. Tito has those signature moments, great KO wins vs. Fernando Vargas, Ricardo Mayorga, Joppy among others. He beat one gold medalist after another when he went through Pernell Whitaker, Oscar de La Hoya and David Reid in a 13-month span in 1999-2000. But he’s done, no shame in that.
RJJ and Oscar both said about 10 years ago that they would never fight beyond their prime. They both have, but maybe the Manny Pacquiao beatdown will make de La Hoya realize it’s time to step away.
I gots a soft spot for four of these fighters and a love-hate relationship with Jones Jr. for years. I don’t like seeing boxers go on when it’s over. I don’t like thinking about someone becoming another Meldrick Taylor (maybe the saddest boxing story of my generation).
Other thoughts from 2008
- Chad Dawson arrived on the scene. He’s the real deal who will always be involved in good, scrappy fights in the light heavyweight division… Will Andre Berto finally fight someone with a pulse? I’ve been going nuts about this kid for a couple of years, but he’s regressed as a fighter because of shoddy (careful) matchmaking. He’s got a big battle with Luis Collazo on Jan. 17… I apologize to Arthur Abraham and Joe Calzaghe. These guys can fight. I never should have doubted them… The Contender from Singapore hosted by Tony Danza for the cruiserweight division on VS? Even I’m having trouble seeing every show of this season… HBO’s 24/7 is no longer must-see programming. But the theme music is still must-listen stuff… Can’t believe Nate Campbell is one of the best fighters. My first memory of him was him being knocked out by Robbie Peden. The Galaxxy Warrior has come a long way, and I love watching him mix it up now… Too many HBO PPVs, not enough Showtime Championship Boxing during the final months of the year. I need my fix… It may be “dying” in the U.S., but boxing is alive and well globally. Manny Pacquiao – Philippines; Miguel Cotto – Puerto Rico; The Klitschko Brothers – Ukraine, Germany; The Marquez Brothers – Mexico; Lucien Bute – Canada… Boxing in 2009 will be better than 2008.
Wish List for 2009
- That Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather fight in the ultimate Boneman dream fight. Don’t even care who wins.
- That Jermain Taylor wins another world title. I thought the Arkansas kid was just in it for the money. Nah, he’s a fighter when it comes down to it.
- That Joe Calzaghe stick around. He’s got Glen Johnson, Chad Dawson or maybe Jermain Taylor. Please don’t go yet.
- That HBO commentator Larry Merchant never ride off into the sunset. I love the old coot, sport wouldn’t be the same without him.
- That the local boxing scene continues its recent surge. Enjoy those outings at Remington Park. Could other casinos be far behind?
- That Shane Mosley be rightfully cleared for all wrong doing in the BALCO/EPO stuff from 2003. I don’t think that’s going to happen because I think he may have been at fault.
- That Winky Wright fight again, if only so he can shut up. Winky is one of those great tacticians who overvalues what he’s worth. Not everyone loves him, he must accept that.
- That an American heavyweight emerge to challenge the Klitschko brothers. My money is still on Kevin Johnson. Johnson and Chris Arreola need to mix it up.
- That Paul Williams get a mega fight. Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto look like they’ll be dancing again, so I don’t know who wants a shot at the genetic left-handed freak.
- That Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez stay away from each other. Beat up on other people and meet for the fourth time in 2010.
- That Margarito-Cotto II can be half as good as the first one. It’ll be interesting to see what Cotto does to change anything. Margarito’s granite chin allows him to change nothing.
- And finally, that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather fight. Wait, I said that already. Sorry. Really, we need this fight. It’ll bring Roger Mayweather back to HBO’s 24/7, might make it watchable again.
That concludes boxing week for 2008. Next week is all about MMA. And with a huge PPV in UFC 92 on Saturday, the best may have been saved for last.
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