A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
No one got hurt. And it was mildly entertaining. Not a bad night for Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., as well as those who paid to watch them.
I wasn’t looking forward to the exhibition even a little bit but I had to watch it because I do this. I was around when Tyson regained the heavyweight championship and Jones was the best fighter on the planet, which were special times. The geezers we saw on Saturday in Los Angeles were different people.
Tyson, 54, looked a little like the Tyson of old, physically imposing, kind of quick for an old guy. Jones, 51, was less the fighter of old, although he showed flashes of the sublime athlete he once was.
In the end, it was the equivalent of a baseball old-timers game, a unusual opportunity to watch one-time heroes do their thing just one more time, which isn’t so bad.
Tyson says he plans to do it again. That’s fine if he and his dance partner fight as he and Jones fought on Saturday, throwing a few punches, holding more than would normally be tolerated, not trying to kill each other and generally having a little fun over eight two-minute rounds.
And we won’t have to endure the same level of pre-fight hype, as the novelty of Tyson returning to the ring will have worn off. That’s a good thing.
Honestly, I dread the thought of having to watch another old-boxers game — if any sport is for the young, it’s this one — but, hey, to be honest, I’ve seen worse fights.
A few more observations …
I was a little disappointed at Jones’ conditioning. He was gassed before the first round was over, which told me that he put in the bare-minimum effort in the months leading up to the fight. If you’re going to do this, do it right.
I also have to applaud the production, which was avant-garde (swearing? pot smoking?) but entertaining. The marriage of hip-hop and boxing worked well. And guest commentator Snoop Dogg was brilliant, serving up some legitimate observations but mostly refreshing comedy.
I rarely laugh at the corny jokes of boxing broadcasters but I LOL’d when Snoop said as the main event got underway, “This s— is like two of my uncles fighting at the barbeque.” And his singing when Robinson went down the second time was hilarious.
Someone needs to hire that guy to do more work as a boxing commentator.
All it all, Tyson-Jones was fun.
***
BAD
Daniel Jacobs on Friday gave one of the more curious efforts in recent memory.
On paper, his super middleweight fight against Gabriel Rosado was a mismatch. Jacobs is seen as a refined, experienced former middleweight champion with power while Rosado is known more for his toughness than his ability.
That’s not how it played out. Jacobs, as flat as he has ever looked, sleepwalked his way to a split-decision victory that easily could’ve gone the other way behind closed doors at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
What the hell happened?
Jacobs provided a hint in his post-fight interview, saying the fight felt like a sparring session. And it’s hard to get up for a sparring session, especially against an opponent you know isn’t in your league.
Jacobs evidently felt that all he had to do was show up and he’d win. He turned out to be right – barely. Rosado isn’t a star but he’s a solid, durable fighter who can cause trouble if given the opportunity, as we saw on Friday.
I was surprised by Jacobs’ performance. One, I thought of him as a disciplined professional who would never give less than his best. And, two, there was a lot at stake for him. He had to win to set up big-money fights next year.
Everyone has off nights. And the fact it happened during these strange times makes it somewhat more understandable. Still, I thought it was appropriate that Jacobs apologized after the fight.
“I apologize to all the fans who expected a more [entertaining] fight,” he said.
Apology accepted. Don’t let it happen again.
***
WORSE
It’s easy to joke about the fate of Nate Robinson on the Tyson-Jones card.
The former NBA player talked a good game before his celebrity fight against YouTube personality Jake Paul but fell flat on his face – literally – after the bell rang to start their amateurish cruiserweight fight.
Paul is a crude boxer who had fought only once before Saturday but he has spent quite a bit of time in the gym. He’s gaining an idea of how things work in this sport. Robinson? Clueless.
The one-time slam dunk contest champion, who supposedly has learned the basics, seemed to be overwhelmed by the moment. He swung wildly and then rushing toward Paul, holding on to him for dear life. Paul was poised and savvy enough to wait for opportunities and thenpounced when they presented themselves.
He put Robinson down three times with right hands, the last of which knocked him flat on his face and ended the fight in the second round.
For Paul, it was a great night. He seems to be serious about boxing and made a strong impression. For Robinson, a once-elite athlete, it was nothing short of an embarrassment.
I don’t want to criticize California officials for licensing Robinson or sanctioning the fight. Many athletes from other sports have given boxing a try, usually with little to no success. Robinson won’t be the last, unfortunately.
That said, if Robinson had been seriously injured – and he could’ve been – you could be sure that authorities would rethink their approach to celebrity matchups. Maybe they should count their blessings and do so anyway.
[lawrence-related id=15906,15863,15857,15854]
[vertical-gallery id=15876]