In the six years since his first legitimate loss, Jones, 54-5 (30), has made a methodical climb back to somewhere in the 175-pound ratings (depending on what fan you ask or internet outlet you frequent) via a steep mountain of fringe contenders, gatekeepers and former champions. All to get to where he should’ve been before the Ruiz fight; had Jones really felt he accomplished all he could at light heavy.
Jones could’ve made that move to cruiserweight, then a maximum weight of 190, back in 2003. It would’ve been the natural thing to do as opposed to prostituting the illusion of invincibility. 11 fights and four losses later, the time lost is much like that cresting tide, only to melt into the breadth of the waters beyond.
Now, at age 40, Jones is reaping whatever reward he can, thanks to the toilsome route his last six years have taken him. The reward in front of him, something called the IBO cruiserweight title, is the first alphabet strap of note Jones has fought for since dropping a lopsided unanimous decision loss in the rubbermatch to Tarver four years ago. In his equally one-sided loss to Joe Calzaghe in November 2008, Calzaghe’s THE RING magazine World Light Heavyweight Championship was on the line.
Danny Green’s transition to cruiserweight has been as methodical and strategic as Jones return from the depths. Green, 27-3 (24), a former alphabet titleholder at super middleweight and light heavyweight, flip-flopped between 168 and 175, finally rooting at light heavyweight in September of 2006 against Jason Delisle (KO 9) and never looked back.
Even now, “The Green Machine” treats his residence (and semi-spurious IBO belt) at cruiserweight with wary respect. Currently, the cruiserweight division carries the greatest span in weight of any division; that being 24 pounds. Green’s heaviest weight since entering the 200-pound division has been 180 ¼ pounds against Anthony Van Niekerk (KO 2) last April. In his vacant title-winning effort against Julio Dominguez (TKO 5) in August, Green came in at only four-and-a-half pounds over the light heavyweight limit. It’s an “economization” that Jones should be just as wary of when the two finally square off Wednesday morning at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia.
Regardless of either fighter’s progression to cruiserweight, Green’s 80 percent knockout ratio is something that’s only waned in the last five years. Jones is still in legitimate danger should he allow himself within Green’s range because Green’s power, much like Bernard Hopkins’ craftiness, has evolved with age and his slow climb up weight.
Jones, never one to rely strictly on power, used to be glorified for an inhuman-like speed. Then again, most of Jones’ critics are just as speedy to point out that, until Tarver, Jones’ blazing speed had been contextualized by a laundry list of so-so opponents. That’s not too far off when you think about it. Jones, as bloat-ish as he was against Ruiz, managed to look good only because Ruiz is a natural plodder with a flat-yet-rhythmic, bouncy approach. Jones put that predictability to use and made himself look splendid.
Green’s not as slow as Ruiz and certainly not as quick as Jones; even in the “advanced years” version, but he’s got power to spare and, as mentioned before, the knockout ratio to prove it. Should Green consistently move in, pace himself and pressure the former light heavyweight king, suffocating him with punches without overdoing it, the Aussie will, at least, secure a decision win; not unlike Calzaghe did against Jones after adjusting his own game after meeting the canvas in the first round.
Less likely will be the possibility of a knockout win for Green (although you just never know…). Insert same applied pressure on the ropes, a la Glen Johnson, and you might have something. Still, it’s less probable because when Johnson KO’ed Jones, it was but a mere four months after Jones’ KO loss to Tarver. Kinda’ thin…but you never know.
Possessed of a style similar to Jones’ then, fellow Aussie Anthony Mundine outboxed (and then some) Green in May of 2006 in a WBA super middle eliminator. It was an easy rout for “The Man” but, in all fairness, Green was well on his way out of the confines of 168, anyway. His unanimous decision loss was a wake-up call. Comfortable at his new weight, Green’s just stronger, period.
So Jones will simply have to be craftier, faster (no problem) and he’ll have to box Green like it’s March of 2003 all over again.
And even though it’s six years later…in the eyes of some, six years too late for a natural progression (although not regarding Green. In 2003, Green was kinda…green)…Jones is where he should be with the chance to experience the way things should be. If Jones followed the natural course age gave him, he might’ve had a couple of more alphabet belts around his waist. He might’ve been the guy to take out Wayne Braithwaite or Jean-Marc Mormeck for their respective cruiser belts and THE RING World Cruiser strap.
On the way to either or both “Big Truck” and/or “The Marksman”, Jones might’ve even been available to give now-WBA heavyweight titlist David Haye a comeuppance. That honor, instead, went to Carl Thompson.
In 2009, instead of being a less-combative participant at the negotiating table across from Bernard Hopkins, Jones might have already been retired, sitting on a pile of money and watching the sun set over Pensacola.
This is the way things should have been. Now, Jones has to make that six-year long, toilsome route make sense.
Questions? Comments? Complaints? Deep, deep, deep discussion about “Criminal Minds”?
Contact Coyote at artofthepaw@yahoo.com or visit him at facebook.com/CoyoteDuran or myspace.com/coyote_duran
