NEW YORK -- Felix Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr. will be
fighting more than just each other on Saturday night at Madison
Square Garden.
They'll also be fighting perceptions that both are far past
their primes.
Jones, considered the pound-for-pound king for the better part
of a decade, turned 39 this week. He showed up to a news conference
at the Garden on Tuesday with a beard that made him appear much
older, though he promised to shave it off when he makes weight of
170 pounds.
He's fought just twice since losing an unanimous decision to
Antonio Tarver in 2005, both lackluster decisions against lesser
opponents. For Jones (51-4, 38 knockouts), this 12-round fight
represents one last step before a potential super-middleweight
title bout -- a road block to a ninth world title.
"A lot of them think I ain't got it anymore," said Jones,
stealing glances at a flat-screen TV with footage of his past
performances, including him becoming the first former middleweight
champ to claim a heavyweight title in more than 100 years.
"This is a chance to show them I still got it."
Trinidad, meanwhile, was lured out of retirement after promoter
Don King flew to his native Puerto Rico and promised him a shot at
Jones. The five-time world champion has fought just twice since
2002, beating Ricardo Mayorga before sustaining a punishing
12-round loss to Ronald "Winky" Wright in May 2005.
Backed by an entourage 21 strong, Trinidad (42-2, 35 knockouts)
defiantly said that nothing would slow him down -- not the long
layoff, fighting at a weight 10 pounds greater than ever before, or
the high expectations that the large Puerto Rican fan base in New
York almost certainly will heap upon his shoulders.
"I'm feeling very good with a lot of passion," Tito said
through a translator. "I trained and worked very hard to win, and
this weekend we're really going to celebrate."
King was already in his usual celebratory mood. But even he
found himself working hard to drum up support for a fight that
should have happened years ago.
At the onset of the news conference, the great lyricist launched
into a rambling, 18-minute oratory on why the fight is relevant --
why fans should shell out $49.95 to watch on HBO pay-per-view, or
pay more than a thousand dollars for a seat near the action.
"What they're saying is that these two guys are old. They're
saying these two guys are not at the height of their careers,"
King said. "They are dreaming, because they are naysayers,
doomsayers, illsayers. The fight was made because of pride."
If nothing else, the two fighters are taking it seriously.
Trinidad has been training for the past six months in Puerto
Rico, slowly putting weight on his slender frame while trying to
retain the quick, heavy hands that have yielded a stunning
80-percent career knockout rate.
His father and trainer, Papa Trinidad, said Tito is in "one of
the best conditions of his life."
Then, turning to Jones and cranking his voice up a notch, the
father added: "You are going to fight against the best Tito
Trinidad that anybody has ever fought against."
Jones, in a departure from his norm, left Florida for a small,
secluded training camp in Pennsylvania with longtime trainer Alton
Merkerson. Slowly he chiseled a 188-pound frame down to fighting
weight, and bared a ripped midriff Tuesday at the behest of King.
"Unfortunately the only person I'm going to be facing is Tito.
I really hate it I can't beat the dad, too," Jones said, smiling
broadly to jeers from the opposing camp. "I can't even begin to
tell ya'all how raw I'm going to be on Saturday night."
Last week, Jones promised a fourth-round knockout, and didn't
waver in his prognostication. He even spoke candidly of where his
campaign will head after dispatching the Latino hero, which could
mean a trip to Wales -- something Jones has balked at in the past --
for a shot at undefeated super-middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe.
In an odd twist, Trinidad said during an open workout Monday
that he wanted a title shot against the Welshman after beating
Jones.
Maybe there's more than pride at stake when the two aging
fighters meet after all.
"These guys have accomplished missions that most boxers haven't
accomplished in their careers," Merkerson said. "Everybody that
reaches their ultimate goal always has another goal they'd like to
accomplish."