Roy Jones Jr discusses Fury-Ngannou and Joshua -Wilder fights
Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr discussed everything that is coming up in the boxing world as of late, including Fury-Ngannou, Joshua-Wilder, Canelo-Charlo and more.
Speaking to Sporting Post, former four-weight world champion Jones Jr believes trainer Mike Tyson will turn Francis Ngannou into a wrecking machine for his fight with Fury and that Anthony Joshua needs at least one more fight to prepare for Deontay Wilder’s “Kiss of death”.
Mike Tyson will try to turn Francis Ngannou into a wrecking machine
“You have to love Fury versus Ngannou. Everybody else is doing it, why can't he? It's an interesting fight. If Ngannou hits you it could be fatal. He can punch and if he catches you right he can be a problem. He hasn't had any pro boxing experience, but he does have fighting experience and he knows how to punch – so fighting experience, he knows how to punch, and Dewey Cooper and Mike Tyson are training him – they are going to put him in position to land that one shot he needs. And in boxing, guess what, it only takes one.”
“Mike Tyson will try to turn Francis Ngannou into a wrecking machine, that's what he needs to be and why he probably brought Tyson in, you can't stand outside and box Tyson Fury, he's going to kill you, so you got to go in there and try and wreck him and if you don't you're going to lose. In a 12 round boxing match, there's no way you can beat Fury. He knows too much and that's what he does, so you have got to turn into a Mike Tyson style wrecking ball.”
Anthony Joshua needs one more fight to prepare for Deontay Wilder’s Kiss of Death
“Derek James and Anthony Joshua needed time together and now they’ve had time, maybe they’ve made a few improvements, but Deontay Wilder knocked Robert Helenius out too, so was it improvements, or was it just the right opponent? It's hard to tell right now and I need to see him fight again to really give that a proper assessment. I definitely think Joshua needs one more fight before Wilder though, even if it’s just to get more comfortable with Derrick James. It's very difficult to teach old dogs new tricks and even harder to get that old dog to have confidence in what you're teaching.
“I don't think Joshua needs another confidence booster before Wilder, I think Helenius was a good confidence booster right there. I just think he needs a solid opponent that he can show he's back into the mould; land the jab, set things up off the jab, if he can do that I think he will be fine, but he definitely needs one more before Wilder because you haven’t looked good.
“Joshua needs to fight someone who has a good right hand, that will help him get properly prepared for Wilder because he's got the best right hand in the business and one of the best of all time. Wlder has that kiss of death. If he kisses you with it, you've got problems, so he should probably fight someone with a good right hand, and someone tall, to prepare himself for Wilder.
“Because of Joshua's athleticism he has a chance against anybody. He's another one of those guys where it depends on how much he wants it, a lot of guys like a Canelo or a Joshua, they have to be motivated.”
“I think Charlo’s mind got a little side tracked and he got off the right path for a minute”
“I'm working with Jermall Charlo right now, and the hardest thing is to teach him and buy into the different things that you're teaching. Because when someone's used to winning a certain way, they want to stick with that way but It's going really well. He tries so hard to learn the things I'm teaching and he’s asking the right questions. He's a hell of a student and I'm looking forward to him getting his mind back right, improving and getting back on the right path. I think his mind got a little side tracked and he got off the right path for a minute. My goal is to get him back on the right path because when he's on the right path, he's a monster and hard to beat.”
“If Canelo is any kind of way not hungry, Charlo is definitely going to beat him”
“It's a very tough fight for both fighters, really tough for Jermell who is going up 14 pounds but at the same time if anybody can do it, he could, because he's super athletic. Think about it, two twin brothers, both world champions, so if anyone can pull it off, it will be one of the Charlo's. But it's a hell of an order to fill because it will depend on how hungry Canelo is. If Canelo is any kind of way not hungry, Charlo is definitely going to beat him, but if he's still hungry and still wants to pursue the top of boxing then he's going to be a monster to deal with himself.
“But Charlo can most definitely spring the upset. It's hard not to question Canelo's hunger. He didn't show much hunger against Bivol. If he won the last round he may have got a draw. If you're Canelo, if you look good and finish good then you'll probably get a draw or win, what kind of hunger does that create? And he's one of the richest guys in boxing, how can you be hungry? Unless you feel motivated to get back to the top. If he feels that way, he's a problem because a motivated Canelo is a tough Canelo.”
Crawford is not a bridge too far for Canelo,
“Crawford is not a bridge too far for Canelo, he's pound for pound the best fighter in the world, so how can you say anything is too far for him? Terence can do anything he wants, it's a matter of what weight they meet at and how quick it happens. I give Terence a chance against anyone on the planet right now. Terence would have even done fine in my day, he's got that meanest about him. He ain't ducking and dodging nothing and he fights right handed and left handed.”
Tank is a modern day Mike Tyson
“Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson are entertaining but Tank is the most entertaining guy because he has that Mike Tyson level of entertainment, he's very powerful and anything can happen at any time, inside or outside the ring. Tank is a modern day Mike Tyson. Haney and Shakur are both really top level boxers and I like Jaron Ennis, those are my top four right now as far as the entertainment factor goes. You're getting something when they box and with Jaron you're going to get that old Roy Jones flavour too. Tyson Fury is another guy that gives you that.”
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