Sporting Chance

Richard Hall isn't in the same class as undisputed world lightheavyweight boxing champion Roy Jones, Jr. He certainly didn't belong in the same ring when they slugged it out at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis last Sunday morning (Manila time).

Jones, 31, proved too good, too slick, and too strong for the outclassed Hall, the World Boxing Association (WBA) No. 1 contender. He toyed with the Jamaican from start to finish, floored him twice in the first round, and beat him up so badly that referee Wayne Kelly mercifully stepped in to halt the carnage in the 11th.

Hall, 28, worked his way up the WBA ratings by knocking out bums. He'd never fought a formidable opponent, feasting on unknowns like Fabian Garcia, Anthony Bigeni, Gary Ballard, and Karl Willis, before facing Jones. He looked like a novice against Jones who hardly raised a sweat in repulsing the bumbling challenger. Hall has put to doubt the WBA's credibility.

Jones' problem is attitudinal. He easily runs out of patience and looks to knock out foes with a single punch. In the Hall bout, Jones could've gone home much earlier. But the fight lasted longer than expected because Jones wasn't content to throw combinations -- he wanted to score a spectacular one-punch knockout. He baited, lowered his guard, and invited Hall to mix it up from close range. All the while, Jones waited to unload his counter left hook -- the weapon that was supposed to send Hall to slumber.

Jones put on a show for the fans. He repeatedly dropped both arms and duckwalked around the ring. Hall did a poor imitation to show he, too, could clown around. But when it came to dropping bombs, Jones detonated and Hall didn't.

So what could you expect from Hall? He'd never been tested by a rated contender. Sure, he boasted 23 knockouts in 24 wins and had lost only to Rocky Gannon, a trialhorse, in 1996. Hall should've disposed of Gannon early. He knocked him down twice in the second round and was on the way to a breezy win on points when he tired out. In the ninth, Hall kissed the canvas and in the next round, capitulated. If Gannon could beat Hall, there was no way Jones would lose to the Jamaican.

Jones took each and every round en route to his abbreviated win. It didn't seem like Hall existed. Jones raked at the human punching bag like it had no soul.

The only respectable opponent in the 175-pound horizon for Jones is World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Dariusz (Tiger) Michalczewski who packs an unblemished 42-0 record, with 33 knockouts (Jones' mark of 42-1, with 34 knockouts, is nearly identical).

Writer Dominic Calder-Smith said, "The most obvious challenge for Jones stands in the muscular form of German-based Pole Michalczewski. Both Michalczewski and Jones have done their fair share of posturing when it comes to discussing the possibility of a best of Europe versus best of America crunch-up but purse disputes and massive egos make this event an unlikely one. Jones wants the European to come to him, whereas Michalczewski understandably feels that his booming market appeal in Germany should force the match to take place on his adopted home soil."

Boxing expert Graham Houston agreed that Michalczewski is the only lightheavyweight left to seriously threaten Jones. But the issue of logistics prevents a collision in the near future. "Michalczewski gets big money from German pay-per-view TV," said Houston. "If he were to fight Jones in the US, in prime time, it would be in the early hours of the morning in Germany. This would not suit German TV. And even if Jones went to Germany, which does not seem to be likely, a fight in peak viewing hours over there would be in the early afternoon in the US. So this fight seems destined not to happen."

Jones is getting increasingly bored disposing of tomato cans and pretenders. That's why he's considering to invade the heavyweight ranks. For a while, a fight against one-time Mike Tyson conqueror James (Buster) Douglas was in the works. A Jones confidant said an Evander Holyfield clash is a possibility. Next month, Holyfield takes on John Ruiz for the WBA version of the heavyweight title. Maybe, Jones could challenge the winner.

Holyfield weighs 220 pounds and Ruiz, 230. Jones tipped the scales at about 173 for Hall. He'll give up some 50 to 60 pounds if he ever fights Holyfield or Ruiz. Should Jones stay bored or will he try to make history?

Ring historian Bert Randolph-Sugar said Jones ranks among the top lightheavyweights in history and would've beaten Tommy Loughran, Maxie Rosenbloom, John Henry Lewis, Archie Moore, Bob Foster, and Mike Spinks by decision and Bob Fitzsimmons and Matthew Saad Muhammad by knockout. Sugar, however, said Jones would've lost to Billy Conn and Ezzard Charles on points.

Hall hardly tested Jones' mettle in their one-sided affair last weekend. It was a disgrace for a fighter like Hall to be ranked No. 1 by the WBA. Maybe, in another time and place, Hall would've been tough. But in Jones' era, he's just too good for anyone in his division to impress.