From Las Vegas to Boise, Idaho in two years

By Robert Morales

Wow!

That is the path that has been traveled by Roy Jones Jr., who took a 49-1 record into his second fight with Antonio Tarver on May 15, 2004, and was viciously knocked out in the second round in a battle for the light heavyweight championship at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Jones was stopped again four months later in Memphis, this time in savage fashion by Glen Johnson in the ninth round. Jones' legs twitched as he lay on the canvas.

Finally, in a rematch with Tarver last October in Tampa, Fla., Jones was easily defeated by Tarver via unanimous decision. Jones was satisfied that he at least went the distance, which is just pathetic.

Even more pitiful is that Jones is now reduced to fighting someone named Prince Badi Ajamu on Saturday at Qwest Arena in Boise. Instead of having a crowd full of black jack players watching him in Las Vegas, Jones' fight will probably be witnessed by a large group of potato farmers.

The four-division world champion has fallen about as far as he can fall. But even though this Prince character does not have an impressive list of opponents on his ring record, Jones is
setting himself up to fall even farther, to hurt his legacy, and perhaps himself.

See, what made Jones so good was his lightning-quick hand speed, his dazzling footwork and his ability to render his opponent clueless as to how to land a clean punch.

But you always knew that once all of that vanished, Jones would be nothing more than a punching bag. Don't forget, Jones was never the most courageous fighter in the world, so he certainly isn't capable of winning on heart.
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His hands are brittle, adding another hinderance. But most importantly, Jones' brain might be fragile.

He has had a concern for getting seriously injured in the ring ever since his pal Gerald McClellan was brutally knocked out in the 10th round by Nigel Benn in 1995. McClellan, now 38, suffered permanent brain damage and is completely disabled.

By continuing to fight at age 37 after having lost three consecutive fights - really blasted in two of them - Jones is on dangerous ground.

Even if Jones escapes the kind of damage suffered by McClellan, he could be a candidate to end up like brothers Jerry and Mike Quarry, both of whom died in their 50s after long bouts with pugilistic dementia.

During some recent research, it was found that fighters who have more than 150 total fights, or who have pro careers lasting 10 years or more, are more susceptible to being afflicted
with pugilistic dementia - also known as punch drunk syndrome.

Jones (49-4, 38 KOs) has 53 pro fights over a 17-year career. He also had a lengthy amateur career, meaning he probably has more than 150 total fights.

Yet, here he is, complete with extra large ego, refusing to retire.

During a conference call this week, Jones didn't say much. His answers were mostly meaningless, and at times confusing. He did have one poignant thought when asked if he was having difficulty getting pumped up about fighting in Boise.

"Just the allure of not being in the ring (the past nine months) is enough for me," Jones said. "I'm just happy to be here, happy to be fighting a guy like Prince Badi."

How can someone like Roy Jones Jr. take anything from a fight with this so-called Prince? Even if Jones knocks him out, it won't do anything for Jones but give him a victory over a fighter no one has ever heard of.

Meanwhile, since Jones is not even a shell of the fighter he once was, he could get knocked out again. Then where would he be? Possibly on a path of a different kind. One that took the Quarry brothers to early graves, or maybe one that has Bobby Chacon walking around appearing to be mentally retarded because he, too, has pugilistic dementia.

Listen, we're all for hard-core prize-fighting. But debilitating injuries or deaths never do anyone or anything any good.

Someone like Jones, a very intelligent man, should know better. With his money, his type is the last that should continue to fight when his career is obviously over.

Of course, Prince Badi Ajamu (25-2-1, 14 KOs) will say that, wow, fighting the great Roy Jones Jr. is a dream come true.

"I think, to me, I look at it as a personal test because I have admired Roy, you know,
coming out watching so much," said Prince Badi, 34, of Camden, N.J
"I never thought that the creator will place me in front

of this man, but now that he is here, I am full (spirited) here and I am looking forward to the opportunity to (push) the am looking forward to the opportunity to (push) the coreline."

Anyway, there you have it. Saturday, we anticipate a fight that doesn't do anything positive for our maligned sport. Alas, it could be painfully negative.

"I just feel pretty good," Jones said. "Now, you know, I feel like back to being my old self, back to enjoying myself, back to enjoying the sport."

Let's hope that Jones can still say that late Saturday night. You can catch it on pay-per-view for $24.95.

If you are either a sadist or a masochist - in this case you can be both - you'll buy.