Roy Jones Jr. spoke with journalist James Hooper in the November issue of “Australia’s Leading Boxing Publication” “The Fist” and had some interesting comments about his December 2 fight with IBO Cruiserweight champ “The Green Machine” Danny Green. The Jones vs. Green battle will be televised (same day coverage) in the U.S. on Versus Network, as will the Hopkins-Ornelas bout live the same night in Philadelphia. Expectations are Jones and Hopkins both will win and then clash in a 2010 rematch on HBO pay-per-view
Here are a few outtakes from the Jones Q&A in “The Fist”:
Roy Jones Jr. on his fondness for Down Under: “I love Australia. If I ever decide to leave the United States this is definitely where I want to live. The people have all been so friendly… I understand what a big fight this is in terms of Australian boxing history and that’s why I signed on for it. I can’t wait.”
His keeping promise to Green and making Hopkins wait: “I have to beat Danny to make sure my fight with Hopkins stays intact. But for the moment I am totally focused on winning the (IBO) Cruiserweight world title. If I’ve signed on for a fight then I’ve signed on for the fight. I keep my word.”
His motivation now: “Getting this cruiserweight title. It’s the only thing I don’t have on my resume now and I want it bad. I’m just a fighter who loves belts. That’s what it’s all about for me.”
His intensity for training has not diminished: “If anything I train even harder. I do five hours a day – morning and afternoon. I sleep about eight to nine hours a night and I train every day except for Sunday.”
His thoughts on Danny Green: “I knew Danny very well. He’s got a reputation around the world as a real puncher. His greatest attributes are his strength and power. But then I’ve got speed. I’m going to have to fight a smart fight to make sure Danny’s punching power and the home crowd don’t become a factor. There’s no question he’s got a big engine ane he keeps coming at you from round one to round 12.”
His counter to accusations by Jeff Fench that he and Green are friends and the fight is a set-up: “I don’t know what Jeff was trying to get at there. I felt like what he said had something to do with him and Danny because they don’t like each other. My fight with Danny ain’t got nothing to do with friendship. I mean, we’re cool me and Danny, but this is business. He’s got the IBO Cruiserweight belt and I want it. It’s as simple as that.”
It’s a superbly insightful interview by Hooper that also reveals Jones’s picks for the best pound-for-pound fighters he’s ever seen, his favorite boxers to watch when he was a young fighter, his opinion on Anthony Mundine and more. The November issue of “The Fist” features a two-page layout/interview with three exclusive photos of Jones in Australia.
