Thursday, October 24, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Jones says he's serious about big fight

Boxing star weighs 40 to 50 pounds less than heavyweight champion Ruiz

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Boxer Roy Jones Jr. is embarking on a one-week tour of the Southeast to promote his new rap album, "Round 1."

Jones, the undisputed light heavyweight champion, doesn't have time for a cross-country tour. He has other important business.

Jones said he plans to start training camp within two weeks for his fight against John Ruiz, the World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, on March 1 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Many in the media have speculated about whether Jones has signed to fight and whether he really wants the bout. But in a telephone interview Wednesday, Jones stated emphatically that he intends to fight Ruiz.

"I can't spend a long time on a tour (promoting the album) because I have to get to camp because this is a very important fight," Jones said. "There are people talking who don't know what they're talking about saying this and that, that I don't want the fight. Well, I'll tell you this right now: I do want the fight. The fight is going to happen."

Jones said he has agreed to the terms of the fight. The only things left to be decided are the duties and obligations of each party in promoting the fight, such as news conferences and a press tour.

Jones is due to make a mandatory defense of his International Boxing Federation title against Antonio Tarver. But Jones has written the IBF asking for an exemption so he can fight Ruiz.

Even if the IBF refuses his request for an exemption and strips him of his belt, Jones said "it won't be a deal breaker." He has received an exemption from the WBA and expects to receive one from the World Boxing Council.

"I am going to fight this fight no matter what any of the organizations say," Jones said. "This fight is much bigger than any organization. This is the fight that will put Roy Jones Jr. over the top."

Jones (44-1, 36 knockouts) already has Hall of Fame credentials. He was named Most Outstanding Fighter in the 1988 Olympics and has gone on to professional world titles at 160, 168 and 175 pounds.

Jones said he weighs less than 190 pounds between fights, and he still can make the super middleweight limit of 168. That makes Jones' challenge of Ruiz even more remarkable.

Ruiz (38-4-1, 27 knockouts) will have an advantage of about 40 to 50 pounds. Ruiz, a Summerlin resident, normally weighs in the low to mid 230s. Jones said he plans to weigh about 187.

Although that is under the cruiserweight limit of 190, Nevada Athletic Commission rules would allow him to fight as a heavyweight with the commission's approval.

Jones was extremely confident. He said even though he hasn't worked out a strategy, he has no doubt he will win. When a reporter expressed doubt about Jones' ability to defeat a man who is so much larger, Jones chided him.

"Just watch," he said. "All I'm saying is, get your butt down to your ringside seat and keep your eyes on the ring because Roy is going to amaze you again. Ruiz is going to be the hardest puncher I've ever faced in my life.

"He'll be a very difficult guy to beat. But trust me, I'll figure it out, like I always do. I'm not sure which way I'm going to go now or how it will happen, but I know it will happen. I will win that title."

If he does, Jones would be only the second person who had held a recognized middleweight belt to win a portion of the heavyweight title. The first to do it was Hall of Famer Bob Fitzsimmons, who won the middleweight title Jan. 14, 1891, then captured the heavyweight title by stopping James J. Corbett on March 17, 1897.

Fitzsimmons weighed 167 and Corbett 183 for that fight.

Jones said he will have an unusual reaction if he wins.

"I'm going to pass out," he said, jokingly. "I'll flat out pass out. This is going to be the ultimate accomplishment. This will put me on the top, ahead of everybody else."