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Jones' trainer backs his man
Other Sports, 11:20, November 7, 2008 ,
Roy Jones Jr's trainer, Alton Merkerson, has defended his fighter's recent record as he prepares to face Joe Calzaghe this weekend.
The four-weight world champion takes on undefeated Welshman Calzaghe for the de facto world light-heavyweight crown at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
The fight has attracted a great deal of attention on both sides of the Atlantic with many feeling it could be the defining fight in the British star's career.
His father and trainer, Enzo, recently questioned Jones' desire after two losses to Antonio Tarver and one to Glen Johnson, saying: "When things get hard and his heart is searched and mind questioned, will he come up short? Against Joe, he will.
"Jones had it his own way for too long, and when he found someone who wanted to knock him out, he came up short."
But Merkerson responded by giving reasons for his fighter's three consecutive defeats, after which he recorded three points victories to get back on track.
"What Roy did has never been done, going up from light-heavyweight to win the heavyweight crown before coming back down to claim the light-heavyweight crown again," he said.
"He put on 18-20lb of muscle and shortly after he beat Ruiz we started negotiating with Mike Tyson, but he wasn't ready to fight Roy.
"So he was pressured into boxing Antonio Tarver by the boxing world and HBO. The date was locked in and Tarver's name came up.
"It was complicated coming back down to 175lb and his mental frame of mind was messed up. He wasn't mentally or physically prepared and he didn't look very good."
And the experienced trainer believes his charge is now in the shape he needs to be to dispose of Calzhage.
"He's right back to where he used to be," he added. "He's comfortable at 175lb, and I see in Roy now what I saw in him 12 years ago.
"It takes more of a man after being knocked out and continuing to march. I don't see him struggling with Calzaghe's speed. Some people can drive with windscreen wipers going, some people can't. So those punches won't bother Roy."