Roy Jones Jr: The End Of An Era?

They say you cant stay on top forever. Someday, someone who is younger, faster and hungrier will eat your food right off of your plate. They say the great ones never know when to bow out. They always seem to go one more fight, one more album, one more game too long. When Michael Jordan collected his last ring, they said he should have left the game. When Jay-Z dropped The Black Album, they said that was the perfect finale to a wonderful career. When Roy Jones Jr defeated John Ruiz to become the first fighter in over 100 years to win world titles from middleweight to heavyweight, they said he had nothing left to prove.

Leave the game before it leaves you.

But you couldnt tell that to Roy Jones Jr. Not to a man who once had a stranglehold on the pound for pound best fighter in the world title for years. Not to a man who dominated an unprecedented four different weight classed en route to eight world titles. You cant tell Superman that one day hell wake up a hair slower and a day older. But soon enough, that day will arrive and it surely arrived in tragic fashion for Roy Jones Jr.

May 15th 2004 was the day Roy Jones dreamland of a career got a brutal rude awakening courtesy of Antonio Tarvers kryptonite that turned Superman into a mere mortal. It started as another days work for Jones as he got comfortable pawing away at an opponent who gave him his toughest contest ever just months before. Right when Jones lunged in during the 2nd round with his usual right to the body followed by pulling his head back (a boxing no-no) to set up another attack it happened. He went to sleep on May 14th still as Superman and woke up on the 15th older, slower and human.

It was as if everything he had ever accomplished was wrung right out of him. For a boxer who broke all of the sports rules with his superhuman athleticism anchoring his monstrous resume, his lack of fundamental boxing skills reared its ugly head. It wasnt a fluke either, as journeyman Glen Johnson duplicated the feat on September 25th in a fight most thought would be a cakewalk for Jones. Jones followed that with a loss in 12 rounds to Tarver on Oct 1st 2005 this time Jones remained on his feet but his legacy was definitely tarnished.

"The knockouts did not change me as a fighter. I was more of a boxer as a heavyweight, Jones reflects on those dark days over the phone. The problem was when I came back to light heavyweight, I lost all of the muscle and I lost all of the energy. I was going for the knockout because I didn't want to go the whole 12 rounds because my body was tired. I couldn't understand why my body was tired and it didn't dawn on me until now.

Sure, the weight fluctuation took a toll on Jones body, but the fact that he is past his prime doesnt bode well for a fighter who leaned heavily on his physical specimen to dominate his opponents. How could you tell Superman to use his jab when his spit could knock you out? How can you tell him to protect his face when he sees punches coming at him before they are thrown? You dont insult Superman like that. Even if you do know there will soon be chinks in his armor. After being mentally and physically dismantled, reality set in. Now a mere mortal, it was easy to tell Jones to finally quit.

But Jones went back to the well and trained hard to not let his legacy end on a sour note. Two wins later and now we find ourselves staring at a Jan 29th date between he and the other fighter who, if paired 7 years ago, would have made for the fight spectacle of the decade. But he too lost his luster in dominating fashion Felix Trinidad. But before we get into the fight, Jones addresses his past.

If I beat (Tarver & Johnson) I probably would have walked away, Jones says. He (God) knows what He wanted, not me. But I would have cheated the world out of a whole lot of blessings that He gave me. I feel like there is a lot more entertainment for me to give this sport than I had let them see alreadyHad I won, He knew I probably would have quit. But I didn't win, so He wouldn't let me quit.

An interesting philosophy on why Superman has come back to fight as Clark Kent. His gifts are still head and shoulders above many, but those gifts arent simply a part of him anymore, they are the product of hard work. Thats what happens when you are still boxing at 39 years old. You have to work hard to keep in shape but Jones doesnt seem to mind the age at all.

Yes, and let me tell you why, Jones begins when asked if he saw himself boxing at this age. That is the reason why I never wanted to drink and I never wanted to smoke. Because I wanted to be able to perform at any time and at any age if I had to. I wanted to keep my options open because I didn't know what would happen in my career. But I don't know because it's really not my call and I don't know when I am going to leave.

It isnt as if he hasnt faced adversity before. He was robbed of the gold medal in the 88 Olympics when he handily put a beating on South Korean fighter Park Si-Hun only to be jolted by a decision that Jim Lampley of HBO Boxing described as the worst decision in the history of amateur boxing. Jones wouldnt let his dream be deferred and began his professional boxing career by knocking out his first 17 opponents. After becoming the boxer who seemed to be unbeatable, he lost to Montell Griffin via DQ when he hit Griffin twice after Griffin was on the canvas taking a knee. Jones demanded an immediate rematch and the result? Absolute destruction of Griffin within two minutes of the first round.

Today, the obstacle that stands before Roy Jones Jr comes in the form of former world champion Felix Tito Trinidad. But to Jones, beating Trinidad isnt really a big deal.

A win doesn't mean much. He's got to go. He's got to go in fo'. Just to win the fight would not be good enough for me at this time, Jones explains. He has to go. I really don't care when; he's just got to go. The way I see it, Bernard Hopkins is not as good as me. Oscar De La Hoya is not as good as me. Fernando Vargas? Not as good as me. None of those guys can be my equal, and they stopped him.

Jones loves the sport. Some say they love the game but it becomes painfully obvious that many legends keep fighting for the right price. Muhammad Ali fought longer than he should have because he needed the money. Roy Jones is fighting because he loves what he does. So much in fact, that he isnt getting a guaranteed purse for this fight. Everything is dependent on ticket and pay-per-view sales and Jones doesnt mind that one bit.

I dont have a guarantee, It shouldnt be about the money, it should be about the love of the sport, Jones says to myself and many reporters at a roundtable discussion in New York days before the fight. I might not make a dollar. I dont care. I aint here to make a dollar, Im here to beat Tito. If I can make a dollar today, I can make it another day.

This other fighter, Floyd Mayweather, was only looking at the dollar signs, Don King interrupts, taking a jab at today's pound for pound king. Then his [Trinidad's] father told him about Roy Jones. Roy heard about it and put himself to work. Right now, it is incredulous. No one can believe it is Roy Jones. You are talking to Roy Jones Jr., the man who has committed himself to excellence.

Jones isnt one to look past any fighter but he does open up about who hed like to fight and an interesting name thats tossed out there gets his attention.

Tyson? A journalist asks considering reports that Mike Tyson may get in the ring with Evander Holyfield again and Jones would fight the winner.

"I could see myself fighting the winner of anything," Jones confidently responds.

I would fight Glen Johnson, Antonio Tarver, Chad Dawson-I don't care, Jones barks at reporters. Let me tell you one more time, my time, my probation period is over. I don't care who he is. Line them up and I'll go to them. I don't care where he's at. If we have to go to London to fight Joe, if we have to go to Tampa to fight Tarver, or if we have to go to Miami to fight Glen. I don't care. My name is Roy Jones Jr. I am Superman and I don't care about anybody else.

But what if Superman cant leap buildings in a single bound anymore? What if he is no longer faster than a speeding bullet or more powerful than a locomotive. What if Superman is forever to be Clark Kent and is much more than mortal.

Something has got to be wrong with me, Jones says when asked if he doesnt live up to his promise of knocking Trinidad out in four rounds. It might be time for me to stop.

And if he does stop at the hands of Trinidad on January 19th, it will indeed be an end to an era. How will you remember Roy Jones Jr?